Pablo Gabriel García Pérez is a Uruguayan former footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. A player of physical approach to the game, his nickname is Canario, referring to his birthplace. He spent most of his professional career in La Liga, amassing 135 appearances in six years in representation of four teams, but also played several seasons in Greece with PAOK. A Uruguayan international over one decade, García appeared for the nation at the 2002 World Cup and two Copa América tournaments.
Moving to CA Osasuna for the 2002–03 campaign, García played intense football throughout three seasons in Navarre. In his first match, a 2–2 La Liga draw at Villarreal CF on 1 September 2002, he collected a booking and scored the match's final goal. In the final of the 2005 Copa del Rey García, already an essential midfield element for Osasuna, received a straight red card after a dangerous challenge on Real Betis' Joaquín, in an eventual 1–2 extra time loss. However, he had already caught the eye of Real Madrid which signed the player to a three-year contract, with compatriot Carlos Diogo also being purchased. After having received 17 yellow and one red cards during 2004–05, García made his Real Madrid official debut on 10 September 2005, playing 11 minutes in a 2–3 home loss to RC Celta de Vigo. Eventually, he won the battle for the team's first-choice holding midfielder over Thomas Gravesen, although none were an undisputed starter. After helping Madrid to a runner-up place in the 2005–06 season, García was deemed surplus to requirements by new boss Fabio Capello and, on 29 August 2006, he signed a one-year loan contract with Celta. After an uneventful personal campaign where he was injured for most of the year and his club was also relegated, he returned to Real Madrid in July 2007 to be loaned immediately again, this time to newly promoted Real Murcia.
PAOK
After another relegation, García was released by Real Madrid on 10 July 2008 and, on the 23rd, agreed to join PAOK FC in Greece. He quickly became a fan favorite, not as much for his defensive abilities rather than his hot temper; managing to receive three red cards in his first six games, and also starring in an infamous incident with Olympiacos F.C. player Diogo Luís Santo during a derby. After being hit in the face by Diogo's elbow in a confrontation during a set piece, García retaliated with a punch to the Brazilian's belly; both actions surprisingly eluded the referee's attention, but the Uruguayan eventually received a three-match ban. García's second season was much better overall, as PAOK only conceded 16 goals in 30 matches, finishing second in the table, with him forming a stable midfield partnership with Spaniard Vitolo. Additionally, he renewed his link to the club until 2012, even agreeing to a reduction in his salary in line with the club's stagnant finances. On 23 May 2012, it was announced that the 35-year-old García renewed his contract with the Thessaloniki side for one more year. On 20 March of the following year, he was mutually released from contract after several incidents with coach Giorgos Donis. García returned to PAOK on 4 June 2013 at the request of major shareholder Ivan Savvidis, agreeing to a one-year deal. In the following winter transfer window, however, he left for fellow league side Skoda Xanthi FC, retiring after a couple of months at the age of 37 and settling in Thessaloniki. On 24 May 2015, García returned to PAOK in an unspecified position. The following month, the club's sporting director Frank Arnesen announced that the former would start his managerial career as an assistant in the under-17 team.
