Santiago García (Uruguayan footballer)

Santiago Damián García Correa (14 September 1990 – 4 February 2021), nicknamed Morro, was a Uruguayan professional footballer who played as a striker.[2] His last club was Argentine club Godoy Cruz, which tenure is considered the most successful of his professional career.[3] being the topscorer of the club in Argentine Primera División[4] and an idol of club supporters.[5] García was also the topscorer of the 2017–18 Argentine Primera División season with 17 goals.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is García and the second or maternal family name is Correa.
Santiago García
Personal information
Full name Santiago Damián García Correa
Date of birth (1990-09-14)14 September 1990
Place of birth Montevideo, Uruguay
Date of death 4 February 2021(2021-02-04) (aged 30)[1]
Place of death Mendoza, Argentina
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Club Boca
Libertad Washington
Nacional
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2011 Nacional 77 (39)
2011–2012 Paranaense 15 (2)
2012–2013 Kasımpaşa 1 (0)
2013–2014 Nacional 14 (0)
2014–2015 River Plate-UY 35 (13)
2016–2021 Godoy Cruz 100 (46)
Total 242 (100)
National team
2009 Uruguay U-20 9 (5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

García started his career in Libertad Washington youth teams. He then joined Nacional de Montevideo.[6] He was considered one of Uruguayan football's best prospects.

He appeared on the first team in 2008, at just 17 years old, capturing everyone's attention with his speed and strength. He made his official debut on 27 July 2008 against Defensor Sporting Club, scoring in this game his first goal as a professional player. After his great appearances in Nacional, San Lorenzo de Almagro tried to hire him without success.

During the last two seasons of the Uruguayan championship García participated in the first team of Nacional, although he wasn't considered part of the starting team. This situation changed in the 2010–11 season, in which Garcia has evolved into becoming not only part of the starting team, but also one of its most valuable players. He managed to win the Primera División champion with Nacional and ended the season as the league's top goalscorer, with 23 goals in 28 matches.

On 18 June 2011, García joined Brazilian Clube Atlético Paranaense for €2 million, signing a five-year contract.[7] After failing a drug test for cocaine doping, García was traded to Turkey club Kasımpaşa. In 2013 he returned to Nacional, and one year later he moved to River Plate, where he remained until January 2016 when he was acquired by Godoy Cruz.[3]

With the Mendocino team, García spent the most successful years in the history of the club. The team finished 2nd to Boca Juniors in 2017–18 (with only two points of difference), and qualified to play the 2017 Copa Libertadores. During those five years playing for Godoy Cruz, García also became the club's all-time topscorer in Primera División.[3]

International career

García was a member of the Uruguay under-20 team that participated in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he played three games and scored one goal.

Death and legacy

On 6 February 2021, after several days without being able to be contacted,[8] García, aged 30, was found dead in his apartment in Mendoza, Argentina, with a gunshot wound in the right parietal.[9] Prior to his death, he had been under psychiatric treatment. Later, it was confirmed that the cause of death was suicide by gunshot.[10] After preliminary examinations of the Scientific Police, it was determined that he died on 4 February.[1]

After the death of García was confirmed, Godoy Cruz announced that number 18 worn by García during his tenure on the club would be retired to honor him.[11][12]

References
  1. "La muerte de Santiago Morro García: "Murió el jueves" y "no hubo participación de terceros"". Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  2. "S. GARCÍA". Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  3. La carrera del Morro García on Mendoza Post, 6 Feb 2021
  4. De ídolo a goleador marginado: la intensa carrera de Santiago Morro García en Godoy Cruz on Infobae, 6 Feb 2021
  5. La vida y carrera del ídolo tombino on Mendoza Online, 6 Feb 2021
  6. "El 'Morro' García, de Nacional, destroza a Peñarol con sus goles" (in Spanish). 13 May 2010.
  7. "Santiago Garcia acerta com Atlético Paranaense" (in Portuguese). Atlético Paranaense. 18 June 2011.
  8. "Conmoción en el fútbol argentino: apareció muerto el delantero Santiago García". TN (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  9. Urgente: encontraron muerto a Santiago "Morro" García (in Spanish)
  10. "Se suicidó el Morro García - TyC Sports". www.tycsports.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  11. Godoy Cruz retirará la camiseta 18 on El Gráfico, 6 Feb 2021
  12. Muerte de Morro García: Godoy Cruz retirará la camiseta 18 on TyC, 6 Feb 2021
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