Alberto García Aspe
Mexican midfield legend who scored both World Cup goals from the penalty spot.
Alberto García Aspe Mena (born 11 May 1967) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Recognized for his character, discipline, and leadership, Aspe is regarded as one of the greatest Mexican footballers of all time. He is best remembered for his tenure with Pumas UNAM and later with Necaxa, during which the club experienced a remarkable era of success. On the international stage, Aspe made 109 appearances for Mexico over a fourteen-year period, scoring 21 goals. He represented the national team at the FIFA World Cup in 1994, 1998 and 2002.
Quick Facts
- Nickname
- El Cotorra
- Position
- Central; Attacking Midfielder
- Club
- Club América
- Nationality
- Mexican
- Known for
- Playmaking
- long-range passing
- set-piece delivery
- composure under pressure
Lore & Background
Aspe made his professional debut in 1984 with Pumas UNAM in a match against Puebla. He won the 1990–91 league title, with Pumas defeating Club América in the final. In 1991, Aspe was transferred to Necaxa, where he enjoyed the most successful period of his career, winning two consecutive league titles, the Copa México, the Campeón de Campeones and the CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup. In 1995, Aspe had a short-lived loan spell with River Plate in Argentina. He left the club without making a significant impact. Aspe joined Club América in 1997. He occasionally served as team captain, but the club experienced limited success during his tenure. He concluded his professional career with Puebla in 2002.
Reader's Guide
García Aspe's international debut came on February 21, 1989, in an impressive 2–1 victory against Guatemala. He participated in 109 matches, scoring a total of 21 goals. In addition, he played in three FIFA World Cup tournaments: 1994, 1998 and 2002. He scored once in 1994 against Bulgaria and once in 1998 against Belgium, both from penalty kicks. In the 2002 FIFA World Cup, García Aspe only appeared in one game, playing twelve minutes in the Round of 16 defeat to the United States.
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