1. Early Life and Youth Career
1.1. Early Life
Enrique García Martínez was born on November 25, 1989, in Motilla del Palancar, Cuenca, Spain. He is known by his nickname "Kike."
1.2. Youth Career
García embarked on his football journey by joining CD Quintanar del Rey for a brief period. At the age of 18, he entered the esteemed academy of Real Murcia CF. His senior debut came in the Tercera División during the former's reserves 2007-08 season. He officially made his professional debut on May 23, 2009, entering as a substitute for Quique de Lucas in a 2-2 away draw against RC Celta de Vigo in the Segunda División. Approximately one month later, he scored his first professional goal, which was the opening goal in a 2-1 home victory over UD Salamanca. In November 2009, he signed a new three-year contract, which officially promoted him to the main squad.
2. Club Career
Kike García's professional football career spans across several clubs in Spain and England, marked by significant goals and contributions to each team.
2.1. Real Murcia
In September 2011, García suffered a fibula injury, which initially sidelined him for a month but ultimately kept him out for the entire 2011-12 campaign. Despite this setback, he signed a new deal with Murcia in October of the following year, extending his contract until 2016. In his final season with the club, the 2013-14 season, García distinguished himself as the joint second-top scorer in the league with 23 goals. His prolific scoring helped Real Murcia reach the La Liga promotion play-offs, though the team was later relegated administratively. His strong performance that season also earned him the recognition of being named the Segunda División Player of the Month for May 2014. Overall, he played 144 matches and scored 48 goals for Real Murcia (including its B team).
2.2. Middlesbrough
On July 11, 2014, García transferred to English Championship side Middlesbrough in a deal worth 3.50 M EUR (approximately 2.70 M GBP). He was brought to the club by fellow Spaniard Aitor Karanka, who had previously worked with him at the international youth level. García made a strong competitive debut for Middlesbrough on August 9, starting in a home match against Birmingham City on the opening day of the 2014-15 season, where he scored his team's second goal in the 66th minute, securing a 2-0 home win. Just three days later, in his second appearance, he found the net again, coming on as a substitute against Oldham Athletic in a Football League Cup tie, completing a 3-0 victory.
García continued to make an impact, scoring the second goal in a 2-0 FA Cup fourth-round win away to reigning Premier League champions Manchester City on January 24, 2015, after coming on as a substitute in the 86th minute. On February 10, he scored an 88th-minute winner in a 2-1 away defeat of Blackpool, a result that propelled Middlesbrough above AFC Bournemouth into first place in the league. On May 15, 2015, García scored in a 3-0 win over Brentford in the Championship play-offs, which secured Middlesbrough a 5-1 aggregate victory and advanced them to the play-off final. He was a substitute in the decisive match, a 2-0 loss to Norwich City at Wembley Stadium.
In the following season, on August 15, 2015, García achieved his first two-goal haul for Middlesbrough, scoring a first-half brace in a 3-0 home win against Bolton Wanderers. On December 19, he scored and assisted Christian Stuani in a 3-0 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion, which ended the host's unbeaten season and placed Middlesbrough at the top of the league table. The subsequent signings of strikers David Nugent and Jordan Rhodes at Middlesbrough created increased competition and speculation about García's future at the club.
2.3. SD Eibar
Following interest from Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Kike García left Middlesbrough and signed with SD Eibar in the top flight on February 2, 2016. However, a late registration meant he was ineligible to play until the following season. He finally made his debut for the Basque club on August 19, 2016, starting in a 2-1 away loss against Deportivo de La Coruña.
In his debut campaign with Eibar, he scored seven goals in the league and nine goals across all competitions, contributing to the team's tenth-place finish. On May 1, 2021, García delivered a remarkable performance, scoring all three of his side's goals in a 3-0 home victory over Deportivo Alavés. Despite scoring a total of 12 goals in the 2020-21 season, Eibar was ultimately relegated, finishing last in the league.
2.4. CA Osasuna
García remained in the Spanish top tier in the 2021 off-season, joining CA Osasuna as a free agent on a three-year contract. This deal included a significant 15.00 M EUR buyout clause. He quickly found his scoring form for his new team, netting his first goal on August 29 from a penalty spot in a 3-2 away victory against Cádiz CF. García played a crucial role in Osasuna's run to the final of the 2022-23 edition, where he emerged as the top scorer of the tournament with five goals, predominantly scored in the early rounds.
2.5. Deportivo Alavés
On August 13, 2023, Kike García signed a two-year deal with Deportivo Alavés, a club newly-promoted to the top tier. In his debut campaign with Alavés during the 2023-24 season, he scored three goals. On January 18, 2025, García achieved his third professional hat-trick, and his second in the main division, contributing to a 3-1 away victory against Real Betis.
3. International Career
Kike García's international career primarily involved representing Spain at the youth level. In June 2009, he received a call-up to the Spain under-20 team to participate in the Mediterranean Games held that year. He was also included in coach Luis Milla's squad for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, further cementing his presence in the national youth setup. In total, he played 7 matches and scored 3 goals for the Spain U-20 national team.
4. Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Murcia B | 2008-09 | Segunda División B | 34 | 8 | - | - | - | 34 | 8 | |||
| Murcia | 2008-09 | Segunda División | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 1 | ||
| 2009-10 | Segunda División | 31 | 3 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 34 | 3 | |||
| 2010-11 | Segunda División B | 30 | 12 | 4 | 1 | - | 4 | 0 | 38 | 13 | ||
| 2011-12 | Segunda División | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 1 | |||
| 2012-13 | Segunda División | 36 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 36 | 7 | |||
| 2013-14 | Segunda División | 41 | 23 | 1 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 44 | 23 | ||
| Total | 144 | 47 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 158 | 48 | ||
| Middlesbrough | 2014-15 | Championship | 42 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 51 | 12 |
| 2015-16 | Championship | 19 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 24 | 4 | ||
| Total | 61 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 75 | 16 | ||
| Eibar | 2016-17 | La Liga | 24 | 7 | 3 | 2 | - | - | 27 | 9 | ||
| 2017-18 | La Liga | 35 | 8 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 37 | 8 | |||
| 2018-19 | La Liga | 30 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 31 | 3 | |||
| 2019-20 | La Liga | 27 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 5 | |||
| 2020-21 | La Liga | 37 | 12 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 38 | 12 | |||
| Total | 153 | 35 | 7 | 2 | - | - | 160 | 37 | ||||
| Osasuna | 2021-22 | La Liga | 33 | 5 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 36 | 6 | ||
| 2022-23 | La Liga | 35 | 2 | 8 | 5 | - | - | 43 | 7 | |||
| Total | 68 | 7 | 11 | 6 | - | - | 79 | 13 | ||||
| Alavés | 2023-24 | La Liga | 33 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 35 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 493 | 113 | 32 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 541 | 125 | ||
5. Honours
Kike García has achieved several team and individual honors throughout his professional career.
5.1. Club
- Segunda División B: 2010-11 (with Murcia)
- Copa del Rey: Runner-up 2022-23 (with Osasuna)
5.2. International
- Mediterranean Games: 2009 (with Spain U20)
5.3. Individual
- Segunda División Player of the Month: May 2014
- Segunda División Best XI: 2013-14