1. Early Life and Background
Paulo Garcés's early life was influenced by a family with strong ties to both sports and the arts.
1.1. Family Background
Paulo Garcés comes from a family with diverse talents. His father, Patricio Garcés, was also a goalkeeper. However, his paternal relatives are largely involved in arts and music. His older brother, Óscar Garcés, is an actor and formerly played as a goalkeeper at the youth level for Colo-Colo. His younger brother, Miguel Garcés, is a singer, as are his cousins, Andrés de León (whose stage name is Christian Garcés) and Patricio Garcés.
2. Professional Career
Garcés's professional career spans over two decades, marked by various transfers, significant club achievements, and national team involvement.
2.1. Debut and Early Career
Paulo Garcés made his professional debut in 2003 during the closing championship of the Chilean Primera División. His first match was against Santiago Wanderers at San Carlos de Apoquindo Stadium. Following his debut with Universidad Católica, he was loaned out to Deportes Puerto Montt in 2004 and again in 2007.
2.2. Club Career
After his loan spell at Deportes Puerto Montt, Universidad Católica loaned Garcés to Lobos de la BUAP in the Primera "A" of Mexican football. After this experience in Mexico, he returned to Chile to play for Everton de Viña del Mar, where he occasionally featured in the starting lineup. In 2009, he returned to Universidad Católica with the aim of securing a regular starting position under coach Marco Antonio Figueroa.
In 2013, Garcés joined O'Higgins and played a pivotal role in their Apertura 2013-14 championship victory. During this tournament, he played 16 matches, conceding only 12 goals. He was particularly crucial in the final against Universidad Católica, making key saves in the final minutes of the match. In 2014, O'Higgins won the Supercopa de Chile against Deportes Iquique, though Garcés did not play in this match due to a call-up to the Chile national team. He also participated with O'Higgins in the 2014 Copa Libertadores, where the team faced Deportivo Cali, Cerro Porteño, and Lanús in the group stage, finishing third and being eliminated.
In 2021, Garcés played six matches for Primera B club San Luis de Quillota before resigning from the team. Later that year, he joined Deportes Valdivia in the Segunda División Profesional de Chile. On 25 January 2024, Deportes Linares announced his signing, but Garcés withdrew from the agreement five days later. He subsequently renewed his contract with Deportes Valdivia. In June of the same year, he moved to Unión San Felipe.
2.3. National Team Call-ups
Paulo Garcés has received call-ups to the Chile national football team. Notably, he was called up in 2014, which led to him missing the 2014 Supercopa de Chile match for O'Higgins.
2.4. Playing Style and Nickname
Paulo Garcés plays as a goalkeeper. He is widely known by his nickname, HalcónHawkSpanish, which translates to "Hawk" in English, reflecting his agility and sharp reflexes in goal.
3. Personal Life
Beyond his football career, Paulo Garcés has a family life with his wife and children.
3.1. Marriage and Children
Paulo Garcés is married to model Joyce Castiblanco. The couple has three children: Florencia, Benjamín, and Paulo.
4. Honours
Garcés has accumulated several team and individual honors throughout his career.
4.1. Team Honours
- Universidad Católica**
- Primera División de Chile: 2005-A, 2010
- Universidad de Chile**
- Primera División: 2012-A
- O'Higgins**
- Primera División: 2013-A
- Supercopa de Chile: 2014
- Colo Colo**
- Primera División: 2015-A
4.2. Individual Honours
- 2012 Copa Sudamericana Team of the Tournament
- 2013 Jugador Experto Easy del Año
- Medalla Santa Cruz de Triana: 2014