Luiche
Full nameLuis García Martínez
Birth date20 August 1940
Birth placeAlicante, Spain
Death date22 July 2024 (aged 83)
Death placeMonòver, Spain
PositionRight-back
Years 11958–1962
Clubs 1Villena
Years 21962–1964
Clubs 2Monóvar
Years 31964–1965
Clubs 3Oliva
Years 41965–1966
Clubs 4Calvo Sotelo
Caps 411
Goals 40
Years 51966–1967
Clubs 5Ibiza
Years 61967–1968
Clubs 6Eldense
Years 71968–1971
Clubs 7Villarreal
Years 81971–1972
Clubs 8Benicarló
Years 91972–1974
Clubs 9Villena
Manageryears 11974–1975
Managerclubs 1Petrelense
Manageryears 21975–1977
Managerclubs 2Santa Pola
Manageryears 31977–1978
Managerclubs 3Almansa
Manageryears 41978–1979
Managerclubs 4Eldense
Manageryears 51980
Managerclubs 5Eldense
Manageryears 61980–1981
Managerclubs 6Albacete
Manageryears 71981–1982
Managerclubs 7Yeclano
Manageryears 81982–1983
Managerclubs 8Eldense
Manageryears 91984
Managerclubs 9Alcoyano
Manageryears 101985–1986
Managerclubs 10Nules
Manageryears 111986–1988
Managerclubs 11Villarreal
Manageryears 121988–1991
Managerclubs 12Castellón
Manageryears 131991
Managerclubs 13Sabadell
Manageryears 141992
Managerclubs 14Cartagena
Manageryears 151994
Managerclubs 15Castellón
Manageryears 161995–1996
Managerclubs 16Alcoyano
Manageryears 171996
Managerclubs 17Castellón
Manageryears 181998
Managerclubs 18Novelda

Luis García Martínez (20 August 1940 – 22 July 2024), commonly known as Luiche, was a Spanish football manager and player who played as a right-back.

Career

Born in Alicante and raised in Villena, both in the Valencian Community, Luiche's professional inputs as a player consisted of 11 Segunda División matches with CF Calvo Sotelo in the 1965–66 season. During his playing career, he also represented Villena CF (two stints), CD Monóvar, UD Oliva, SD Ibiza, CD Eldense, Villarreal CF and CD Benicarló before retiring in 1974 at the age of 32.[1]

Immediately after retiring Luiche took up coaching, being in charge of local side UD Petrelense. After managing Santa Pola CF and AP Almansa, he first arrived in Segunda División B, in charge of a club he represented as a player, Eldense.[2]

In 1986, after spells at Albacete Balompié, Yeclano CF, Eldense, CD Alcoyano and CF Nules,[3] Luiche was appointed manager of Villarreal in Tercera División. After achieving promotion with the latter in his first season and narrowly missing out promotion in his second, he took over CD Castellón in the second division.

Luiche achieved promotion to La Liga with Castellón in 1989, and remained in charge of the club until April 1991; despite being replaced by Lucien Muller, the club still suffered relegation at the end of the campaign. In June 1991, he was named manager of CE Sabadell FC in the second level,[4] but was sacked in October after only one win in six matches.[5]

Luiche then worked at Cartagena FC before returning to Castellón in February 1994, but being unable to avoid the club's relegation from the second division. After suffering another drop at Alcoyano in 1995–96, he subsequently managed Novelda CF also in division three.

Legacy

In May 2012, the city of Villena named their new stadium after Luiche.[6]

Death

Luiche died on 23 July 2024, at the age of 82.[7]

Honours

Manager

Castellón

References

  1. ^ "Luis García Martínez "Luiche" y su pasión por el fútbol" [Luis García Martínez "Luiche" and his passion for football] (in Spanish). Villena. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Luis García "Luiche"... entregado al deporte" [Luis García "Luiche"... dedicated to the sport] (in Spanish). Villena Cuéntame. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Luiche fichó como técnico del Nules" [Luiche signed as manager of Nules] (in Spanish). El Periódico Mediterráneo. 29 August 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  4. ^ ""Luiche" ya es del Sabadell" ["Luiche" is already of Sabadell] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 16 June 1991. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Luiche, cesado en el Sabadell" [Luiche, sacked at Sabadell] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 8 October 1991. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  6. ^ "El nuevo polideportivo municipal de Villena se denominará Luiche" [Villena's new municipal multi-sport stadium will be named Luiche] (in Spanish). Información. 19 May 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  7. ^ Fallece Luiche, el entrenador del ascenso a Primera en 1989 (in Spanish)