Kike (footballer, born November 1989)

Enrique García Martínez (Spanish pronunciation: [enˈrike ɣaɾˈθi.a maɾˈtineθ];[lower-alpha 1] born 25 November 1989), known as Kike ([ˈkike]), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a striker for SD Eibar.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is García and the second or maternal family name is Martínez.
Kike
Kike with Eibar in 2017
Personal information
Full name Enrique García Martínez
Date of birth (1989-11-25) 25 November 1989
Place of birth Motilla del Palancar, Spain
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Eibar
Number 17
Youth career
2004–2007 Quintanar Rey
2007–2008 Murcia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Murcia B 34 (8)
2009–2014 Murcia 144 (48)
2014–2016 Middlesbrough 53 (15)
2016– Eibar 133 (28)
National team
2009 Spain U20 7 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 January 2021

He began his career at Real Murcia, competing in five Segunda División seasons before a €3.5 million transfer to Middlesbrough in 2014. After one and a half seasons in the Football League Championship, he returned to Spain with Eibar.

Kike played for Spain at under-20 level, making his debut in 2009.

Club career

Murcia

Born in Motilla del Palancar, Cuenca, Kike joined Real Murcia's youth categories aged 18, after a brief spell with local CD Quintanar del Rey.[1] He made his senior debut with the former's reserves in the 2007–08 season, in Tercera División.

On 23 May 2009, Kike played his first match as a professional, coming on as a substitute for Quique de Lucas in a 2–2 away draw against RC Celta de Vigo for the Segunda División championship.[2] He scored his first goal roughly a month later, the first in a 2–1 home victory over UD Salamanca.[3] In November he signed a new three-year contract, being definitely promoted to the main squad.[4]

Kike suffered an injury in his fibula in September 2011[5] and, despite being initially sidelined for a month, he was out of action for the entire campaign. In October of the following year he signed a new deal with Murcia, running until 2016.[6]

In his final year with the Pimentoneros, 2013–14, Kike was the joint second top scorer in the league with 23 goals and helped his team to the La Liga promotion play-offs.[7] He was also May's Player of the Month.[8]

Middlesbrough

On 11 July 2014, Kike joined English Football League Championship side Middlesbrough, in a €3.5 million (£2.7 million) deal.[7] He was signed by compatriot Aitor Karanka, who had worked with him at international youth level,[7] and made his competitive debut on 9 August by starting at home to Birmingham City on the opening day of the season, scoring his team's second goal in the 66th minute for a 2–0 home win.[9] He found the net again in his second appearance three days later, replacing Adam Reach early into the second half of a Football League Cup tie at Oldham Athletic and scoring the last goal in a 3–0 victory.[10]

Kike came on for Jelle Vossen in the 86th minute of Middlesbrough's FA Cup fourth round match at reigning Premier League champions Manchester City on 24 January 2015, and scored the second goal of a 2–0 win.[11] On 10 February, he netted an 88th-minute winner in a 2–1 away defeat of Blackpool, a result which moved his team above Bournemouth into first place.[12]

Kike scored in Middlesbrough's 3–0 win over Brentford on 15 May 2015, which advanced the hosts to the play-off final 5–1 on aggregate.[13] He was a substitute in the decisive match, a 0–2 loss to Norwich City at Wembley Stadium.[14]

On 15 August 2015, Kike scored his first two-goal haul for Middlesbrough, a first-half double in a 3–0 home win against Bolton Wanderers.[15] He scored and assisted Christian Stuani on 19 December in a 3–0 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion, which ended the hosts' unbeaten season and put the opposition on top of the league table.[16]

Eibar

The signings of strikers David Nugent and Jordan Rhodes at Middlesbrough led to speculation about Kike's future at the club, creating extra pressure for him to be included in the starting line-up.[17][18] After interest from fellow league teams Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, he left and on 2 February 2016 signed for SD Eibar in La Liga, but a late registration meant that he would be ineligible to play until the following season.[19]

Kike finally made his debut for the Basques on 19 August 2016, starting in a 1–2 away loss against Deportivo de La Coruña.[20] He scored seven goals in his debut campaign – nine across all competitions – helping to a tenth-place finish.[21]

International career

Kike was called up to the Spain under-20 team in June 2009, for that year's Mediterranean Games.[22] He was also in Luis Milla's list for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[23]

Honours

Club

Murcia

International

Spain U20

Individual

Notes
  1. In isolation, García is pronounced [ɡaɾˈθi.a].

References
  1. Ruipérez, Pedro (July 2009). "Kike, la trayectoria" [Kike, the career] (in Spanish). Quintanar Deportivo. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  2. "El Celta la pifia y sigue cerca del pozo" [Celta fumble and remain near the pit]. Marca (in Spanish). 23 May 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  3. "El Murcia liquidó al Salamanca" [Murcia finished Salamanca]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  4. "Kike renueva contrato tres años con el Murcia" [Kike renews contract for three years with Murcia]. Marca (in Spanish). 11 November 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  5. Moreno, Ángela (5 September 2011). "El Murcia también se queda sin Kike" [Murcia left without Kike as well]. La Opinión de Murcia (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  6. "Kike García renueva hasta 2016" [Kike García renews until 2016]. Marca (in Spanish). 31 October 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  7. Vickers, Anthony (11 July 2014). "Watch: Murcia striker Kike to complete €3.5m transfer to Boro after weeks of talks". TeessideLive. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  8. "Kike García recibe el 'Premio BBVA' al Mejor Jugador de la Liga Adelante" [Kike García receives the 'BBVA Award' for the Best Player in the Liga Adelante] (in Spanish). Liga de Fútbol Profesional. 5 June 2014. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  9. "Middlesbrough 2–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  10. "Oldham Athletic 0–3 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  11. Whalley, Mike (24 January 2015). "Manchester City 0–2 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  12. "Blackpool 1–2 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  13. Newsum, Matt (15 May 2015). "Middlesbrough 3–1 Brentford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  14. Shepka, Phil (25 May 2015). "Middlesbrough 0–2 Norwich City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  15. "Middlesbrough 3–0 Bolton". BBC Sport. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  16. Cartwright, Phil (19 December 2015). "Brighton & Hove Albion 0–3 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  17. "David Nugent: Middlesbrough sign Leicester City striker". BBC Sport. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  18. "Jordan Rhodes signs for Boro from Blackburn Rovers". Middlesbrough F.C. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  19. "Kike leaves Boro to sign for Eibar – but won't make his debut until next season". TeessideLive. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  20. Jiménez, Rubén (20 August 2016). "Lucas se inventa un liderato" [Lucas comes up with first place]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  21. Franch Molinet, Narcís (12 June 2017). "Resumen Eibar 2016/17: Kike García, rendimiento eficiente opacado por lesiones" [2016/17 Eibar sum-up: Kike García, efficiency shadowed by injuries] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  22. "Kike convocado con la selección Española sub20" [Kike called up with the Spain under-20 national team] (in Spanish). Quintanar Deportivo. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  23. Vera, José A. (15 September 2009). "Kike irá al Mundial Sub-20 y se perderá seis partidos" [Kike will go to the Under-20 World Cup and will miss six matches]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  24. "ITA – ESP 1:2 (0:0)" (PDF). Pescara 2009. 4 July 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
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