Keyler García Explained

Keyler García
Fullname:Keyler Lázaro García Estrada
Birth Date:14 January 1990
Birth Place:Camagüey, Cuba
Position:Forward
Years1:2008–2015
Clubs1:Camagüey
Nationalyears1:2011
Nationalteam1:Cuba U23
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2011–2015
Nationalteam2:Cuba
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:0

Keyler Lázaro García Estrada (born 14 January 1990) is a Cuban international footballer.

Club career

Nicknamed el Chino, Garcia played for hometown team Camagüey before leaving Cuba.[1]

International career

He made his international debut for Cuba in an international friendly against Costa Rica in December 2011[2] and has earned a total of 5 caps, scoring no goals.

García was called up to the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup but defected to the United States in Chicago, one day prior to the Cuba's opening game against Mexico on 9 July 2015 at Soldier Field.[3] Arael Argüelles, Darío Suárez and Ariel Martinez also fled their country at the same tournament.[4]

His final international was a June 2015 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Curacao.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.elblogdelfutbolcubano.com/2014/02/camaguey-habana-en-fotos.html Camagüey - Habana en fotos
  2. Web site: Cuba vs. Costa Rica 1 – 1. Soccerway. 11 December 2011.
  3. Web site: Keilen García desertó de la selección de Cuba. futbol.univision.com. 9 July 2015. 8 July 2015. Spanish. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150710083943/http://futbol.univision.com/article/2394482/2015-07-08/copa-oro/cuba/keilen-garcia-deserto-de-la. 10 July 2015.
  4. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/07/18/gold-cup-striker-ariel-martinez-becomes-fourth-player-defect-cuba Gold Cup: Striker Ariel Martinez becomes the fourth player to defect from Cuba