Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique

Full Name : Luis Enrique Martinez Garcia
Born : 08.05.1970
Born in : Gijon, Spain
Nationality : Spain
Height : 180 cm
Weight : 73 kg


Career:

Club
07/1996 - 06/2004 => FC Barcelona, Spain
07/1991 - 16/1996 => Real Madrid, Spain
07/1989 - 06/1991 => Sporting Gijon, Spain

After starting his career with Sporting Gijon, Luis Enrique spent most of it with the two biggest Spanish clubs: first Real Madrid in 1991-96 and, in a stunning move, he saw out his contract and moved to fierce rivals FC Barcelona on a free Transfer. The Catalan club's supporters were at first understandably hesitant about their new acquisition, but he soon won the cules heart, staying eight years with the club (1996-2004), and even becoming first-team captain.

On August 10, 2004, at the age of 34, Luis Enrique announced his retirement, feeling that he could no longer keep up to the standards he set for himself. He was named by Pele as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.

Coach
07/2008 - 06/2009 --- FC Barcelona B

In June 18, 2008, Enrique returned to Barcelona, taking over the reins of Barcelona B, which was renamed Barcelona Atlètic for 2008-2009. He stated: "I have come home", and "I finished playing here and now I will start coaching here.

Internationals

EURO (1996)
World Cup (1994, 1998, 2002)

Luis Enrique played for Spain in three World Cups: 1994, 1998 and 2002 (as well as EURO 1996), and accumulated 62 caps, scoring 12 goals in his international career. He was also a member of the gold winning squad at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

In the 1994 World Cup, played in the United States, in the 2-1 quarterfinal loss against Italy, he was viciously elbowed by Mauro Tassotti. The action was of such impact that Enrique reportedly lost a pint of blood from his face as a result. Tassotti was banned for six games and did not play for the national team after that.