Jesús García Pitarch Explained
| Jesús García Pitarch |
| Fullname: | Jesús Vicente García Pitarch Marco |
| Birth Date: | 14 November 1963 |
| Birth Place: | La Pobla, Spain |
| Height: | 1.720NaN0 |
| Position: | Winger |
| Youthclubs1: | Atlètic Vallbonense |
| Youthclubs2: | Valencia |
| Years1: | 1982–1983 |
| Years2: | 1983–1985 |
| Caps2: | 37 |
| Goals2: | 9 |
| Years3: | 1983–1984 |
| Clubs3: | → Gandía (loan) |
| Years4: | 1985–1987 |
| Caps4: | 30 |
| Goals4: | 6 |
| Years5: | 1988–1990 |
| Caps5: | 48 |
| Goals5: | 10 |
| Years6: | 1990–1991 |
| Caps6: | 35 |
| Goals6: | 22 |
| Years7: | 1991–1993 |
| Caps7: | 53 |
| Goals7: | 6 |
| Years8: | 1993–1994 |
| Caps8: | 28 |
| Goals8: | 13 |
| Years9: | 1994–1996 |
| Caps9: | 67 |
| Goals9: | 14 |
| Years10: | 1996–1997 |
| Caps10: | 21 |
| Goals10: | 4 |
| Totalcaps: | 319 |
| Totalgoals: | 84 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1984–1985 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 1984 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 1 |
Jesús Vicente García Pitarch Marco (born 14 November 1963) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a left winger.
Playing career
Also known as Suso in his playing days,[1] García Pitarch was born in La Pobla de Vallbona, Valencian Community, and played 120 La Liga games over the course of six seasons (21 goals), spending two apiece with local Valencia, Español and Logroñés. He made his debut in the competition on 8 January 1984 in a 0–3 home loss against Sporting de Gijón where he featured 16 minutes,[2] and finished his first season with the Che with 16 games and six goals.
Whilst with Catalonia's Español, García Pitarch missed the entire 1986–87 campaign due to a bout of glomerulonephritis.[3] He went on to recover fully and, in Segunda División, represented Figueres, Orihuela Deportiva (scoring a career-best 22 goals in 1990–91 but still suffering team relegation, due to irregularities),[4] Mérida and Villarreal.
Post-playing career
García Pitarch majored in law in 1987, opening a firm in his hometown.[5] After being in charge of the club's academy, he worked as a director of football with Valencia, replacing Javier Subirats[6] and remaining in office until June 2004 – initially being fired in December of the previous year – leaving as manager Rafael Benítez.[7]
During five seasons, García Pitarch worked in the same capacity at Atlético Madrid,[8] being responsible for signing the likes of Diego Forlán and José Antonio Reyes.[9] [10] On 4 July 2012, he was elected president of Hércules in the second division,[11] also being the main decider in the football department.[12]
García Pitarch left the Estadio José Rico Pérez after just one year, going on to work as director of football with Real Zaragoza,[13] Baniyas Club (United Arab Emirates)[14] and Valencia.[15] He left his role with the latter club on 7 January 2017.[16]
Aston Villa
On 9 October 2018, García Pitarch was appointed as sporting director of Aston Villa, where his key duties included player recruitment. On 27 July 2020, he was dismissed from this role after chief executive Christian Purslow carried out a "long-term strategic review of how the club can improve its recruitment".[17]
Notes and References
- News: Suso García Pitarch queda libre. Suso García Pitarch now free. Super Deporte. es. 28 July 2020. 21 August 2021.
- News: 0–3: El Sporting le dio um "baño" al Valencia. 0–3: Sporting "played" Valencia. Mundo Deportivo. M.. Domínguez. es. 9 January 1984. 21 August 2021.
- News: García Pitarch: Recuerdos en el dique seco. García Pitarch: Memories from the recovery room. Mundo Deportivo. Jesús. Galindo. es. 31 October 1986. 19 September 2012.
- Web site: Subirats: "La crisis inmobiliaria privó al Orihuela de subir a Primera". Subirats: "Real estate crisis prevented Orihuela from promoting to Primera". Sport Vega Baja. Antonio. Peñalver. es. 29 March 2020. 21 August 2021.
- News: "Soy la diana equivocada". "I'm the wrong target". El País. Cayetano. Ros. es. 14 September 2003. 21 August 2021.
- News: Máximo rendimiento con el mínimo dinero. High income with low money. El País. Cayetano. Ros. es. 29 May 2006. 19 September 2012.
- News: El Valencia destituye a García Pitarch. Valencia dismiss García Pitarch. El País. Cayetano. Ros. es. 4 December 2003. 19 September 2012.
- Web site: García Pitarch, nuevo director deportivo del At.Madrid y Amorrortu, responsable del fútbol base. García Pitarch, new At.Madrid sporting director and Amorrortu, head of youth football. Cadena SER. es. 28 May 2006. 8 April 2017.
- News: The helmsman has changed but Atlético Madrid remain a complete shipwreck. The Guardian. Sid. Lowe. 23 March 2009. 19 September 2012.
- News: Atlético Madrid turn drama into crisis as Gil jnr keeps on digging. The Guardian. Sid. Lowe. 14 September 2009. 19 September 2012.
- News: García Pitarch, nuevo presidente del Hércules. García Pitarch, new president of Hércules. Marca. es. 4 July 2012. 19 September 2012.
- News: García Pitarch tendrá como presidente la última palabra. García Pitarch will have as president the last word. Diario AS. es. 6 July 2012. 19 September 2012.
- News: Agapito Iglesias, decidido a prescindir de García Pitarch en junio. Agapito Iglesias, decided to make do without García Pitarch in June. Heraldo de Aragón. Chema. R. Bravo. es. 29 March 2014. 9 February 2016.
- News: Pitarch ficha por el Baniyas SC de Abu Dhabi. Pitarch signs for Abu Dhabi's Baniyas SC. El Periódico de Aragón. es. 12 July 2014. 9 February 2016.
- Web site: El Valencia Club de Fútbol ha nombrado en el día de hoy como director deportivo a Jesús García Pitarch. Valencia Club de Fútbol have named Jesús García Pitarch as sporting director on this day. Valencia CF. es. 13 January 2016. 9 February 2016.
- Web site: Comunicado oficial: Dimisión irrevocable del director deportivo, Jesús García Pitarch. Official announcement: Irreversible resignation of sporting director, Jesús García Pitarch. Valencia CF. es. 7 January 2017. 7 January 2017.
- News: Aston Villa axe sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch after Premier League survival. Express & Star. Matt. Maher. 27 July 2020. 27 July 2020.
