| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luis García Martínez | ||
| Date of birth | (1940-08-20)20 August 1940 | ||
| Place of birth | Alicante,Spain | ||
| Date of death | 22 July 2024(2024-07-22) (aged 83) | ||
| Place of death | Monòver, Spain | ||
| Position(s) | Right-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1958–1962 | Villena | ||
| 1962–1964 | Monóvar | ||
| 1964–1965 | Oliva | ||
| 1965–1966 | Calvo Sotelo | 11 | (0) |
| 1966–1967 | Ibiza | ||
| 1967–1968 | Eldense | ||
| 1968–1971 | Villarreal | ||
| 1971–1972 | Benicarló | ||
| 1972–1974 | Villena | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1974–1975 | Petrelense | ||
| 1975–1977 | Santa Pola | ||
| 1977–1978 | Almansa | ||
| 1978–1979 | Eldense | ||
| 1980 | Eldense | ||
| 1980–1981 | Albacete | ||
| 1981–1982 | Yeclano | ||
| 1982–1983 | Eldense | ||
| 1984 | Alcoyano | ||
| 1985–1986 | Nules | ||
| 1986–1988 | Villarreal | ||
| 1988–1991 | Castellón | ||
| 1991 | Sabadell | ||
| 1992 | Cartagena | ||
| 1994 | Castellón | ||
| 1995–1996 | Alcoyano | ||
| 1996 | Castellón | ||
| 1998 | Novelda | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Luis García Martínez (20 August 1940 – 22 July 2024), commonly known asLuiche, was a Spanishfootballmanager and player who played as aright-back.
Born inAlicante and raised inVillena, both in theValencian Community, Luiche's professional inputs as a player consisted of 11Segunda División matches withCF Calvo Sotelo in the1965–66 season. During his playing career, he also represented Villena CF (two stints), CD Monóvar,UD Oliva,SD Ibiza,CD Eldense,Villarreal CF andCD 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 managingSanta Pola CF andAP Almansa, he first arrived inSegunda División B, in charge of a club he represented as a player, Eldense.[2]
In 1986, after spells atAlbacete Balompié,Yeclano CF, Eldense,CD Alcoyano andCF Nules,[3] Luiche was appointed manager of Villarreal inTercera División. After achieving promotion with the latter inhis first season and narrowly missing out promotion inhis second, he took overCD Castellón in the second division.
Luiche achieved promotion toLa Liga with Castellón in1989, and remained in charge of the club until April 1991; despite being replaced byLucien Muller, the club still suffered relegation at the end ofthe campaign. In June 1991, he was named manager ofCE Sabadell FC in the second level,[4] but was sacked in October after only one win in six matches.[5]
Luiche then worked atCartagena FC before returning to Castellón in February 1994, but being unable to avoid the club'srelegation from the second division. After suffering another drop at Alcoyano in1995–96, he subsequently managedNovelda CF also in division three.
In May 2012, the city of Villena named their new stadium after Luiche.[6]
Luiche died on 23 July 2024, at the age of 82.[7]
Castellón