Luiche Explained

Luiche
Full Name:Luis García Martínez
Birth Date:20 August 1941
Birth Place:Alicante, Spain
Position:Right-back
Years1:1958–1962
Clubs1:Villena
Years2:1962–1964
Clubs2:Monóvar
Years3:1964–1965
Clubs3:Oliva
Years4:1965–1966
Clubs4:Calvo Sotelo
Caps4:11
Goals4:0
Years5:1966–1967
Clubs5:Ibiza
Years6:1967–1968
Clubs6:Eldense
Years7:1968–1971
Clubs7:Villarreal
Years8:1971–1972
Clubs8:Benicarló
Years9:1972–1974
Clubs9:Villena
Manageryears1:1974–1975
Managerclubs1:Petrelense
Manageryears2:1975–1977
Managerclubs2:Santa Pola
Manageryears3:1977–1978
Managerclubs3:Almansa
Manageryears4:1978–1979
Managerclubs4:Eldense
Manageryears5:1980
Managerclubs5:Eldense
Manageryears6:1980–1981
Managerclubs6:Albacete
Manageryears7:1981–1982
Managerclubs7:Yeclano
Manageryears8:1982–1983
Managerclubs8:Eldense
Manageryears9:1984
Managerclubs9:Alcoyano
Manageryears10:1985–1986
Managerclubs10:Nules
Manageryears11:1986–1988
Managerclubs11:Villarreal
Manageryears12:1988–1991
Managerclubs12:Castellón
Manageryears13:1991
Managerclubs13:Sabadell
Manageryears14:1992
Managerclubs14:Cartagena
Manageryears15:1994
Managerclubs15:Castellón
Manageryears16:1995–1996
Managerclubs16:Alcoyano
Manageryears17:1996
Managerclubs17:Castellón
Manageryears18:1998
Managerclubs18:Novelda

Luis García Martínez (20 August 1941 – 23 July 2024), commonly known as Luiche, was a Spanish football manager and player who played as a right-back.

Career

Born in Alicante and raised in Villena, both in the Valencian Community, Luiche's professional inputs as a player consisted of 11 Segunda División matches with CF Calvo Sotelo in the 1965–66 season. During his playing career, he also represented Villena CF (two stints), CD Monóvar, UD Oliva, SD Ibiza, CD Eldense, Villarreal CF and CD Benicarló before retiring in 1974 at the age of 32.[1]

Immediately after retiring Luiche took up coaching, being in charge of local side UD Petrelense. After managing Santa Pola CF and AP Almansa, he first arrived in Segunda División B, in charge of a club he represented as a player, Eldense.[2]

In 1986, after spells at Albacete Balompié, Yeclano CF, Eldense, CD Alcoyano and CF Nules,[3] Luiche was appointed manager of Villarreal in Tercera División. After achieving promotion with the latter in his first season and narrowly missing out promotion in his second, he took over CD Castellón in the second division.

Luiche achieved promotion to La Liga with Castellón in 1989, and remained in charge of the club until April 1991; despite being replaced by Lucien Muller, the club still suffered relegation at the end of the campaign. In June 1991, he was named manager of CE Sabadell FC in the second level,[4] but was sacked in October after only one win in six matches.[5]

Luiche then worked at Cartagena FC before returning to Castellón in February 1994, but being unable to avoid the club's relegation from the second division. After suffering another drop at Alcoyano in 1995–96, he subsequently managed Novelda CF also in division three.

Legacy

In May 2012, the city of Villena named their new stadium after Luiche.[6]

Death

Luiche died on 23 July 2024, at the age of 82.[7]

Honours

Manager

Castellón

1988–89

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Luis García Martínez "Luiche" y su pasión por el fútbol. Luis García Martínez "Luiche" and his passion for football. Villena. es. 8 December 2020.
  2. Web site: Luis García "Luiche"... entregado al deporte. Luis García "Luiche"... dedicated to the sport. Villena Cuéntame. es. 8 December 2020.
  3. Web site: Luiche fichó como técnico del Nules. Luiche signed as manager of Nules. El Periódico Mediterráneo. es. 8 December 2020.
  4. Web site: "Luiche" ya es del Sabadell. "Luiche" is already of Sabadell. Mundo Deportivo. es. 16 June 1991. 8 December 2020.
  5. Web site: Luiche, cesado en el Sabadell. Luiche, sacked at Sabadell. Mundo Deportivo. es. 8 October 1991. 8 December 2020.
  6. Web site: El nuevo polideportivo municipal de Villena se denominará Luiche. Villena's new municipal multi-sport stadium will be named Luiche. Información. es. 19 May 2012. 8 December 2020.
  7. https://as.com/futbol/segunda/fallece-luiche-el-entrenador-del-ascenso-a-primera-en-1989-n/ Fallece Luiche, el entrenador del ascenso a Primera en 1989