Rafael García Cortés (born 18 January 1958) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a defender.
He amassed La Liga totals of 312 games and 24 goals, having played mainly for Real Madrid and Zaragoza.
Club career Born in Madrid, García Cortés competed in 12 La Liga seasons during his 16-year professional career, having started with Real Madrid Castilla in Segunda División. In the top flight he represented Real Madrid (three and a half years), Burgos CF (one season, loaned), Real Zaragoza (four and a half seasons, having arrived at the club in January 1983), RCD Mallorca (two years) and Rayo Vallecano (1992–93), retiring at the age of 35 with the latter.Rafael García Cortés: "Mi disparo con la zurda venía de serie, no hice pesas en mi vida" (Rafael García Cortés: "My left-foot shot came from doing it again and again, I never lifted a weight in my life"); El Periódico de Aragón, 26 January 2015 (in Spanish)
García Cortés competed in the 1980–81 European Cup with Real Madrid – during his spell at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, he was part of the team dubbed Madrid of the Garcías'Los García' y los montículos de cal ('The Garcías' and the mounds of calcium); El País, 23 February 2009 (in Spanish)– appearing in four matches and starting in three: in the final against Liverpool, his 82nd-minute mistake whilst attempting a clearance enabled Alan Kennedy to score the game's only goal in Paris.García Cortés: “El partido fue muy igualado” (García Cortés: “Match was even as can be”); Real Madrid CF, 19 February 2009 (in Spanish)García Cortés y la final del 81: "Tiré la cinta del partido por la ventana" (García Cortés and 81 final: "I threw the match tape out the window"); Diario AS, 23 February 2009 (in Spanish)Liverpool v Real Madrid: ‘Play the European Cup final, or your career is over’; The Guardian, 19 October 2014
After retiring, García Cortés returned to Real as youth system coordinator.García Cortés: "El equipo ha ganado en poderío defensivo" (García Cortés: "Team is more powerful defensively"); Real Madrid CF, 23 February 2009 (in Spanish)
Honours Real Madrid La Liga: 1978–79 Copa del Rey: 1981–82
Zaragoza Copa del Rey: 1985–86
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