View source for Rudi Garcia

{{Short description|French football manager (born 1964)}}
{{Lead too short|date=December 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Rudi Garcia
| image = Rudi Garcia (Flickr, 2011).jpg
| caption = Garcia in 2011
| full_name = Rudi José Garcia<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lejdd.fr/Sport/Football/Rudi-Garcia-version-espagnole-600672-3203129 |title=Rudi Garcia version espagnole |trans-title=Rudi Garcia Spanish version |newspaper=Le Journal du Dimanche |location=Paris |date=7 April 2013 |access-date=22 December 2019 |language=fr |archive-date=22 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222003700/https://www.lejdd.fr/Sport/Football/Rudi-Garcia-version-espagnole-600672-3203129 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|2|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Nemours]], France
| height = 1.80 m
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub = [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] (manager)
| youthyears1 = 1970–1979
| youthclubs1 = [[AS Corbeil-Essonnes (football)|Corbeil-Essonnes]]
| youthyears2 = 1979–1982
| youthclubs2 = [[ES Viry-Châtillon|Viry-Châtillon]]
| youthyears3 = 1982–1983
| youthclubs3 = [[Lille OSC|Lille]]
| years1 = 1983–1988
| clubs1 = [[Lille OSC|Lille]]
| caps1 = 64
| goals1 = 4
| years2 = 1988–1991
| clubs2 = [[Stade Malherbe Caen|Caen]]
| caps2 = 57
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 1991–1992
| clubs3 = [[FC Martigues|Martigues]]
| caps3 = 15
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1994–1996
| clubs4 = [[AS Corbeil-Essonnes (football)|Corbeil-Essonnes]]
| caps4 = 
| goals4 = 
| totalcaps = 134+
| totalgoals = 5+
| manageryears1 = 1994–1998
| managerclubs1 = [[AS Corbeil-Essonnes (football)|Corbeil-Essonnes]]
| manageryears2 = 2001
| managerclubs2 = [[AS Saint-Étienne|Saint-Étienne]]
| manageryears3 = 2002–2007
| managerclubs3 = [[Dijon FCO|Dijon]]
| manageryears4 = 2007–2008
| managerclubs4 = [[Le Mans FC|Le Mans]]
| manageryears5 = 2008–2013
| managerclubs5 = [[Lille OSC|Lille]]
| manageryears6 = 2013–2016
| managerclubs6 = [[AS Roma|Roma]]
| manageryears7 = 2016–2019
| managerclubs7 = [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]
| manageryears8 = 2019–2021
| managerclubs8 = [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]]
| manageryears9 = 2022–2023
| managerclubs9 = [[Al Nassr FC|Al Nassr]]
| manageryears10 = 2023
| managerclubs10 = [[SSC Napoli|Napoli]] 
| manageryears11 = 2025–
| managerclubs11 = [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]
}}
'''Rudi José Garcia''' ({{IPA|fr|ʁydi gaʁsja}}; {{IPA|es|ˈruði ɣaɾˈθi.a}};{{efn|In isolation, ''Garcia'' is pronounced {{IPA|es|ɡaɾˈθi.a|}} }} born 20 February 1964) is a French professional [[Manager (association football)|football manager]] and former [[Football player|player]] who is currently the head coach of the [[Belgium national football team|Belgium national team]].

Garcia began his professional career with [[Lille OSC|Lille]], and went on to have stints with multiple other French sides. As a manager, he has coached clubs including Lille, [[A.S. Roma|Roma]], [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]], [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]], [[Al Nassr FC|Al Nassr]], and [[SSC Napoli|Napoli]]. Garcia was named the head coach of Belgium in 2025.

==Early life==
Rudi Garcia's father, José, was a Spanish [[expatriate]] who played football at a professional level for [[CS Sedan Ardennes|Sedan]] and [[USL Dunkerque|Dunkerque]].<ref name="bienpublic">
{{cite web | url = http://www.bienpublic.com/archives/article.php?a=art&num=000002967&aaaammjj=20020522&g | title = Rudi García at work | publisher = [[Le Bien Public]] | date = 22 May 2002 | access-date = 4 March 2009 | language = fr | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090224050102/http://www.bienpublic.com/archives/article.php?a=art | archive-date = 24 February 2009 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}
</ref> His grandparents had left [[Andalusia]] for the [[Ardennes]] region during the [[Spanish Civil War]].<ref name=espn>[http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/6794?cc=5739 "Rudi García the right call at Roma"] by James Horncastle, [[ESPN FC]], 15 June 2013</ref> Garcia is named after German cyclist [[Rudi Altig]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Marseille-Coach Garcia bastelt an seinem dritten Titel |url=https://www.sn.at/sport/fussball/international/marseille-coach-garcia-bastelt-an-seinem-dritten-titel-27110056 |newspaper=[[Salzburger Nachrichten]] |agency=[[Austria Press Agency]] |date=24 April 2018 |access-date=6 November 2019 |language=de}}</ref>

Between 1992 and 1994, Garcia enrolled for university, and gained a [[Diplôme d'études universitaires générales|DEUG]] and a STAPS degree at [[Orsay]], as well as French qualifications that entitled him to manage a youth training centre.

==Club career==
When José Garcia became the coach of local team [[AS Corbeil-Essonnes (football)|Corbeil-Essonnes]], he drafted his son into the squad, where Rudi played until cadet level. As Corbeil-Essonnes did not have a national cadets side, Rudi joined the [[ES Viry-Châtillon|Viry-Châtillon]] team. He was 18 when he obtained his [[baccalauréat]] and signed for [[Lille OSC|Lille]], where he would spend two years as an intern and four as part of the professional squad.

Playing as an [[attacking midfielder]], Garcia's first goal for Lille was a notable affair. In December 1984, Lille travelled to the [[Parc des Princes]] to face [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]. With both sides tied at 2–2, Garcia netted to earn his side a win over the Parisian club.

After Lille, Garcia joined [[Stade Malherbe Caen|Caen]], where he was coached by [[Robert Nouzaret]] and [[Daniel Jeandupeux]]. In 1991, he opted to join [[FC Martigues|Martigues]] rather than signing on with the [[Normandy]] club. Serious injuries to his back and knee forced him to retire from professional football at the age of 28, in 1992.

==Managerial career==
===Early career===
In 1995, Garcia returned to Corbeil to manage the [[Division d'Honneur]] side with two months remaining in the season. He guided the club out of relegation. Then, in the seasons that followed, one ended with the club in mid-table and another in a second-place finish.

Between 1994 and 1996, Garcia acted as [[Player-coach|player-manager]] for the club before taking on managerial duties only between 1996 and 1998.

In the late 1990s, for two years he was a [[Physical therapy#Sports|physio]]. Then, he became a [[Scout (association football)|scout]], studying opponents and assisting in the elaboration of [[AS Saint-Étienne|Saint-Étienne]]'s tactics. Gradually, his role shifted to that of an assistant coach, a position he occupied alongside Nouzaret as from July 2000 and [[John Toshack]] afterwards.

In early 2001, when Toshack returned to Spain, Garcia took over first-team duties in collaboration with [[Jean-Guy Wallemme]]. ''Les Verts'' were then in the midst of a miserable season. Poor performances on the pitch were compounded by the club's implication in various affairs involving forged passports. The Garcia/Wallemme duo failed to reverse the trend and, in May 2001, Saint-Étienne were effectively relegated to the French second division. The following month, Wallemme left the club while Garcia was fired in August 2001. The two men, a decade later, would manage [[RC Lens|Lens]] and Lille respectively.

Garcia resumed his activities as a football pundit. At the same time, he was passing his ''Diplôme d'Entraineur Professionel de Football'', the French equivalent of the professional coaching badge. In the spring of 2002, he was contacted by [[Dijon FCO|Dijon]] and signed with them on 21 May 2002. He helped the club to climb to [[Ligue 2]] in 2003–04. The [[Burgundy|Bourgogne]] club even appeared in the semi-final of the [[Coupe de France]], where [[LB Châteauroux|Châteauroux]] defeated it 2–0.

In June 2007, Garcia left Dijon for [[Le Mans FC|Le Mans]], another club he set on to transform in just one season. With players such as [[Romaric (footballer)|Romaric]], [[Marko Baša]] and [[Yohann Pelé]], the [[Sarthe]] club played some pleasant football which brought results as well. Le Mans ended in ninth position of [[Ligue 1]] standings and reached the [[Coupe de la Ligue]] semi-final.

===Lille===
[[File:Rudi Garcia Trophée des champions 2011 (cropped).jpg|250px|thumb|right|Garcia during a press conference after the [[2011 Trophée des Champions|Trophée des Champions]] match defeat against Marseille with Lille in July 2011]]
On 18 June 2008, Garcia rescinded his contract with the club to join Lille, where he had spent six years as a player in the 1980s. In his first season, they developed a stylish and attacking approach, contrasting with previous coach [[Claude Puel]]'s cautious and often boring tactics.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

Garcia's approach ostensibly enabled players such as [[Ludovic Obraniak]] and [[Michel Bastos]] to develop, the latter becoming the club's top scorer in the league with 14 goals. Garcia also gave significant playing time to promising youngster [[Eden Hazard]], later of [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] and [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]].

On 2 June 2009, the [[board of directors]] sacked Garcia, who had just led the club to their best league finish for three years and qualified it for the [[2009–10 UEFA Europa League]]. It was alleged that the sacking was due to differences of opinion between the manager and a member of the board, Xavier Thuilot. The latter himself was sacked from the board later in the month and on 18 June 2009, [[Michel Seydoux]], the club president and major shareholder, offered the manager position again to Garcia, who accepted.

[[Aimé Jacquet]], at the time, expressed his belief that the Nemours-born coach was one of the "brightest prospects" among French football managers.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}} In a country otherwise reputed{{by whom|date=November 2013}} for the defensive approach approved by most of its coaches, Garcia is seen, together with former Paris Saint-Germain manager [[Antoine Kombouaré]], as part of a small group of managers who advocate attacking football as the best means to achieve results.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

In the [[2009–10 Ligue 1|2009–10 season]], Lille continued to improve in the league, finishing one place above their fifth-place finish of [[2008–09 Ligue 1|2008–09]]. With 72 goals scored, the club had the division's best attack, even bettering champions [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]. This led French media and pundits to dub the entertaining side "the [[FC Barcelona|Barça]] of the North".

The [[2010–11 Ligue 1|2010–11 season]] was the club's breakthrough. In May, Garcia led ''les Dogues'' to triumph in the [[2010–11 Coupe de France|Coupe de France]] against Paris Saint-Germain, their first win in the trophy since 1955. The same month, on 21 May, the league and cup double was complete, again after a game against PSG that ended in a 2–2 draw. In the [[Trophées UNFP du football]], Garcia was awarded the prize for best Ligue 1 coach of the 2010–11 season. During the ceremony, he dedicated his trophy to his late father José, even saying a few words in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as a tribute to his father's origins.

===Roma===
[[File:Rudi Garcia - AS Roma - Ritiro 2014 (Bad Waltersdorf) - Edited (cropped).jpg|upright|thumb|Garcia taking charge of a training session as Roma manager in August 2014]]
On 12 June 2013, [[A.S. Roma|Roma]] President [[James Pallotta]] announced that Garcia had been appointed the new manager of the club,<ref name="Roma">{{cite web |url=http://www.asroma.it/en/news/06/12/2013_rudi_garcia/ |title=06/12/2013: Rudi García |publisher=A.S. Roma |location=Rome |date=12 June 2013 |website=A.S. Roma official website |access-date=12 June 2013 }}</ref> news that was initially received very cautiously by Roma fans.<ref name=espn/>

Roma began the [[2013–14 A.S. Roma season|2013–14 season]] by winning its first ten [[2013–14 Serie A|Serie A]] matches. The previous best ever start in the history of the Serie A belonged to [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] in the [[2005–06 Serie A|2005–06 season]], when the [[Turin]] club won its first nine Serie A matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=ita/news/newsid=2017665.html#borriello+header+makes+perfect+roma|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104185434/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=ita/news/newsid=2017665.html#borriello+header+makes+perfect+roma|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2013|title=Borriello header makes it a perfect ten for Roma|publisher=[[UEFA]]|date=31 October 2013}}</ref> Roma's perfect start to the 2013–14 Serie A season included a 2–0 [[Derby della Capitale|derby]] win over [[Rome|city]] rivals [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]], a 3–0 away victory against [[Inter Milan|Internazionale]] and a 2–0 home win over title rivals [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24694928|title=Roma set record for best start to Serie A season|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=27 October 2013 | access-date = 28 October 2013}}</ref> During this ten-match winning run, Roma scored 24 goals while conceding just one goal, away to [[Parma F.C.|Parma]]. Its Serie A ten-match winning streak came to an end on 3 November 2013 when it was held to a 1–1 draw at [[Torino F.C.|Torino]]. During that match, Roma conceded its first goal in 743 minutes of Serie A football.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=ita/news/newsid=2017914.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105062329/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=ita/news/newsid=2017914.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2013|title=Torino halt Roma's run, Inter cruise to victory|publisher=[[UEFA]]|date=3 November 2013}}</ref> Roma, however, eventually finished second in the Serie A, a massive 17 points behind champions Juventus. In finishing second, Roma qualified for the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League|following season]]'s [[UEFA Champions League]]; its last appearance in the Champions League had been during the [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League|2010–11 season]].

Before the start of the [[2014–15 A.S. Roma season|2014–15 season]], Garcia asked to bring in young talents and also experienced players for squad depth ahead of the next season. Roma had an impressive summer transfer activity, where they bought young talent [[Juan Iturbe]], [[Salih Uçan]] and [[Antonio Sanabria]]. Roma also signed Italian defender [[Davide Astori]] and veteran players [[Ashley Cole]] and [[Seydou Keita]].

Garcia's men began the [[2014–15 Serie A]] campaign with 2–0 win over [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]], with goals from [[Radja Nainggolan]] and [[Gervinho]]. Roma continued their winning form and won the second fixture in the league 1–0 against [[Empoli F.C.|Empoli]]. Garcia then lead Roma in their first Champions League appearance since 2010–11 to an impressive 5–1 victory against [[PFC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]] in their first match of Group E of the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League group stage|group stage]]. Roma finished third in the group and was hence transferred to the [[2014–15 UEFA Europa League knockout phase]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/teams/italy/as-roma/1241/matches/|title=Italy - AS Roma - Results and fixtures - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}</ref>

On 5 October 2014, Garcia was sent off by the referee during a Serie A match against Juventus after protesting the referee's decision to award Juve a penalty with a violin gesture. The controversial match ended with Juventus winning 3–2. After the match, Garcia said, "It a pity that here [in Turin] the penalty area is 17 metres. But I'm happy with my team, who showed great personality. There were many incidents today but it was also a little bit of our fault that we lost."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2014/10/05/5160081/garcia-i-didnt-know-the-penalty-area-was-so-big-at-juventus?ICID=PP_36901|title=Garcia: I didn't know the penalty area was so big at Juventus &#124; Goal.com|website=www.goal.com}}</ref> Roma ultimately finished the season in second place in the [[2014–15 Serie A]], 17 points behind Juventus, just like the previous season.

Roma was on top of the Serie A table after matchdays 9 and 10, in late October, of the [[2015–16 Serie A|2015–16 season]]. The club had also qualified for the knockout phase of the [[2015–16 UEFA Champions League]] by finishing in second place in their group with a tally of just six points.

[[File:Rudi Garcia OL.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Garcia managing Lyon in a Ligue 1 game against Dijon in October 2019]]
On 13 January 2016, Garcia and his coaching assistants, Frédéric Bompard and [[Claude Fichaux]], were sacked by Roma after a poor run during which the club managed to win only one out of their last ten matches in all competitions, and only one out of their last seven Serie A matches. Roma had been eliminated on home ground on penalties from the [[2015–16 Coppa Italia]] at the first hurdle on 16 December 2015 by [[Serie B]] side [[Spezia Calcio|Spezia]]. News of the decision to sack Garcia came via Roma's official website, with club president James Pallotta thanking him for his efforts: "On behalf of myself and everyone at AS Roma, I would like to thank Rudi Garcia for all of his hard work since joining the club. We have all enjoyed some great moments during his time at Roma but we believe that this is the right time for a change."<ref name="roma">{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11861/10128437/roma-have-sacked-coach-rudi-carcia-after-one-win-in-last-ten-matches|title=Roma have sacked coach Rudi Garcia after one win in last 10 matches|website=Sky Sports}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jan/13/roma-sack-coach-rudi-garcia-serie-a|title=Roma sack coach Rudi García after run of one win in seven Serie A games
|work=The Guardian|date=13 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2593266-rudi-garcia-sacked-as-roma-manager-latest-details-comments-and-reaction|title=Luciano Spalletti Officially Named Roma Manager After Sacking of Rudi Garcia|publisher=Bleacher Report|date=13 January 2016}}</ref> In his two-and-a-half years in the Roma dugout, Garcia recorded 60 wins, 32 draws and 22 defeats in 114 matches. On 20 October 2016, Roma confirmed that the contracts of Garcia and his coaching assistants had been terminated by mutual consent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asroma.com/en/news/2016/10/rudi-garcia-contract-terminated-by-mutual-consent|title=Garcia contract terminated by mutual consent|publisher=AS Roma official website|date=20 October 2016}}</ref>

===Marseille===
On 20 October 2016, on the same day that he was finally released from his Roma contract by mutual consent, Garcia was appointed manager of Marseille on a three-year deal. He succeeded the interim manager [[Franck Passi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2016/10/20/28665402/marseille-confirm-rudi-garcia-appointment|title=Marseille confirm Rudi Garcia's appointment|publisher=Goal.com|date=20 October 2016}}</ref> Garcia's appointment was made only three days after [[Frank McCourt (executive)|Frank McCourt]] completed the takeover of the club from [[Margarita Louis-Dreyfus]] by paying a reported €45 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37685865|title=Marseille: Frank McCourt promises £180m investment after buying Ligue 1 club|publisher=BBC|date=17 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-mccort-marseille-rudi-garcia-20161021-snap-story.html|title=Former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt quickly makes moves after purchasing Marseille|work=Los Angeles Times|date=21 October 2016}}</ref> On 23 October, Marseille recorded a goalless draw away against [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] in a ''[[Le Classique|Classique]]'' match in Ligue 1, Garcia's first competitive match as manager of the club. He left the club on 22 May 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/article/stubborn-om-keep-psg-at-bay.htm|title=Stubborn OM keep PSG at bay|publisher=Ligue 1|date=23 October 2016}}</ref>

===Lyon===
On 14 October 2019, Garcia moved to [[Choc des Olympiques|rivals]] [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]] to become their new manager, taking over from [[Sylvinho]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Rudi Garcia à Lyon, c'est bouclé|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Rudi-garcia-a-lyon-c-est-boucle/1069489|work=[[L'Équipe]]|language=fr}}</ref> During the [[2019–20 UEFA Champions League|2019–20 UEFA Champions League]] campaign, Garcia guided Lyon from the group stages, where they later beat [[Juventus]] in the round of 16. He led them to the semi-finals after they defeated [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]], where they then lost to eventual champions [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030149--lyon-vs-bayern/ |title=Lyon 0–3 Bayern |website=UEFA |date=19 August 2020 }}</ref> However, he left Lyon at the end of the [[2020–21 Ligue 1|2020–21 season]], after finishing fourth in the league table and thus missing out on the UEFA Champions League places.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2021/official-rudi-garcia-leaves-lyon/ |title=Official: Rudi Garcia leaves Lyon |website=Get French Football News |date=23 May 2021 }}</ref>

===Al Nassr===
On 29 June 2022, Garcia became the head coach of Saudi club [[Al Nassr FC|Al Nassr]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Xavier Béal |url=https://www.goal.com/fr/news/officiel-rudi-garcia-nouvel-entraineur-al-nassr/blt4c7cd35b36dd08b2 |title=OFFICIEL {{!}} Rudi Garcia est le nouvel entraîneur d'Al-Nassr |website=Goal.com |language=fr |date=29 June 2022 }}</ref>

On 13 April 2023, [[Al Nassr FC|Al Nassr]] announced that Garcia had left the club by mutual agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=‎نادي النصر السعودي‎ on Instagram: "قررت إدارة نادي #النصر رسميًا إنهاء العلاقة التعاقدية مع مدرب الفريق الأول السيد رودي جارسيا. مثمنين له كافة الجهود التي بذلها مع #النصر ، ومتمنين له التوفيق . AlNassr can announce that Head Coach Rudi Garcia has left the Club by mutual agreement. The board and everyone at AlNassr would like to thank Rudi and his staff for their dedicated work during the past 8 months." |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq-n2gjsc36/ |access-date=13 April 2023 |website=Instagram |language=en}}</ref>

===Napoli===
On 15 June 2023, Garcia was named the new head coach of [[SSC Napoli|Napoli]], taking over for the resigning [[Luciano Spalletti]]. This marked Garcia's return to Serie A after leaving Roma seven years prior.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Rudi Garcia appointed coach of Serie A champions Napoli after Luciano Spalletti's departure|author=Brendan Madden |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/rudi-garcia-new-coach-serie-a-champions-napoli-luciano-spalletti-departure/blt52ef2055670b5cc1 |website=Goal.com |language=en |date=16 June 2023 }}</ref> On 14 November 2023, after sixteen games in charge and an 8–4–4 record, Garcia was dismissed by Napoli.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Rudi-garcia-debarque-aurelio-de-laurentiis-a-choisi-walter-mazzarri/1431600|title=Rudi Garcia débarqué, Aurelio De Laurentiis a choisi Walter Mazzarri|trans-title=Rudi Garcia fired, Aurelio De Laurentiis choses Walter Mazzarri|language=fr|publisher=L'Équipe|date=14 November 2023|access-date=14 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://football-italia.net/de-laurentiis-chooses-mazzarri-to-be-new-napoli-coach/|title=De Laurentiis choses Mazzarri to be new Napoli coach|publisher=Football Italia|date=14 November 2023|access-date=14 November 2023}}</ref> They were fourth in the table when he was sacked, two adrift from third place,<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/nov/14/napoli-appoint-walter-mazzarri-to-replace-sacked-rudi-garcia Napoli appoint Walter Mazzarri again to replace sacked Rudi Garcia]</ref> and eventually finished the season in tenth.

===Belgium===
On 24 January 2025, Garcia was appointed the new head coach of the [[Belgium national football team]], replacing [[Domenico Tedesco]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cvge8nlvg4ko|title=Ex-Roma manager Garcia named Belgium head coach|publisher=BBC Sport|date=24 January 2025|access-date=24 February 2025}}</ref> He signed a contract through the end of the [[2026 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/soccer-belgium-garcia-d98a5fd437332536548aab6061cb185b|title=Frenchman Rudi Garcia hired as Belgium coach in his 1st national team job|publisher=Associated Press|date=24 January 2025|access-date=24 February 2025}}</ref> Garcia's first two matches in charge of Belgium made up their two-legged [[2024–25 UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs#League A vs League B|UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-off]] against [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]]; his side lost 3–1 in the first leg, though won 3–0 in the second to secure a 4–3 aggregate victory and avoid relegation to League B.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/lukakus-late-double-leads-belgium-3-0-win-over-ukraine-retain-league-spot-2025-03-23/|title=Lukaku's late double leads Belgium to 3–0 win over Ukraine to retain League A spot|publisher=Reuters|date=23 March 2025|access-date=27 March 2025}}</ref>

==Managerial style==
Garcia described his preferred playing style as 'a game based on possession, attacking, quick counter-attacking after regaining the ball and, most importantly, having a collective spirit.' <ref>{{cite web |url=https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/rudi-garcia/|title=learning.coachesvoice}}</ref> He values technical and tactical discipline and organisation yet encourages his players to express themselves.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://totalfootballanalysis.com/team-analysis/al-nassr-202223-their-tactics-under-rudi-garcia-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics#:~:text=The%20French%20coach%20values%20technical,systematic%20and%20individuality%20with%20discipline.|title=totalfootballanalysis}}</ref>

==Media career==
Garcia has worked for [[Canal+ (French TV provider)|CanalSatellite]], first as a reporter for post-match interviews, and then as a studio [[pundit]].

==Personal life==
Garcia has three daughters, named Carla, Eva and Léna.<ref name="giallorossi">{{cite web |url=https://www.giallorossi.net/garcia-esce-allo-scoperto-francesca-fa-parte-della-mia-vita-privata-e-non-da-ieri/ |publisher=Giallorossi.net |language=it |date=19 September 2014 |title=Garcia esce allo scoperto: "Francesca fa parte della mia vita privata, e non da ieri" |accessdate=22 August 2023}}</ref> Since 2014, he is in a relationship with Italian sports journalist Francesca Brienza, who formerly worked for the AS Roma TV channel during Garcia's time in charge of the ''Giallorossi''.<ref name="giallorossi" /> In June 2023, they announced they are expecting their first child together.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ilmattino.it/persone/francesca_brienza_incinta_rudi_garcia_figli_allenatore_napoli_ultime_notizie-7469741.html |publisher=Il Mattino |language=it |date=18 June 2023 |title=Francesca Brienza incinta, in arrivo il primo figlio con Rudi Garcia (che ne ha avuti 3 con l'ex moglie) |accessdate=22 August 2023}}</ref>

After the Paris [[Charlie Hebdo shooting]] in January 2015, Garcia gave out symbolic pencils to all journalists at his press conference, saying, "What happened in Paris was an attack on freedom. But things mustn't change; this freedom should last forever."<ref>{{cite news|title = Charlie Hebdo attack: French sporting stars pay tribute to dead|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30760877|access-date = 11 January 2015|work = BBC Sport|date = 10 January 2015}}</ref>

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|match played 9 June 2025}}

{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=9|Record
|-
!{{abbr|P|Matches played}}!!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}!!{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}!!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}!!{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|align=left|[[AS Saint-Étienne|Saint-Étienne]]
|align=left|4 January 2001
|align=left|August 2001
{{WDL|17|5|5|7}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.asse-stats.com/rudi-garcia |title=Rudi Garcia à l'ASSE |website=ASSE-Stats.com |access-date=6 November 2019 |language=fr}}</ref>
|-
|align=left|[[Dijon FCO|Dijon]]
|align=left|21 May 2002
|align=left|8 June 2007
{{WDL|210|90|61|59}}
|{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-
|align=left|[[Le Mans FC|Le Mans]]
|align=left|8 June 2007
|align=left|18 June 2008
{{WDL|44|18|11|15}}
|{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-
|align=left|[[Lille OSC|Lille]]
|align=left|18 June 2008
|align=left|3 June 2013
{{WDL|256|127|73|56}}
|{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-
|align=left|[[AS Roma|Roma]]
|align=left|12 June 2013
|align=left|13 January 2016
{{WDL|118|61|35|22}}
|{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-
|align=left|[[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]
|align=left|20 October 2016
|align=left|26 May 2019
{{WDL|142|69|34|39}}
|{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
|-
|align=left|[[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]]
|align=left|14 October 2019
|align=left|28 June 2021
{{WDL|78|42|18|18}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=2316 |title=Rudi Garcia managerial statistics |website=Soccerbase |access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref>
|-
|align=left|[[Al Nassr FC|Al Nassr]]
|align=left|28 June 2022
|align=left|13 April 2023
{{WDL|26|18|5|3}}
|-
|align=left|[[SSC Napoli|Napoli]]
|align=left|1 July 2023
|align=left|14 November 2023
{{WDL|16|8|4|4}}
|<ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=Rudi Garcia è il nuovo allenatore del Napoli. De Laurentiis: "Benvenuto e un grande in bocca al lupo" |url=https://sscnapoli.it/rudi-garcia-e-il-nuovo-allenatore-del-napoli/ |date=15 June 2023 |access-date=15 June 2023 |publisher=SSC Napoli |language=it}}</ref>
|-
|align=left|[[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]
|align=left|24 January 2025
|align=left|''present''
{{WDL|4|2|1|1}}
|-
!colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|911|440|247|224}}
!
|}

==Honours==
===Manager===
'''Lille'''
*[[Ligue 1]]: [[2010–11 Ligue 1|2010–11]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2011/05/23/2498346/how-lille-won-the-ligue-1-title|title=How Lille won the Ligue 1 title|website=Goal|access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref>
*[[Coupe de France]]: [[2010–11 Coupe de France|2010–11]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20110518-lille-move-brink-historic-double-football-ligue-1-sochaux|title=Lille move to brink of historic double|website=France 24|date=18 May 2011|access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref>
 
'''Marseille'''
*[[UEFA Europa League]] runner-up: [[2017–18 UEFA Europa League|2017–18]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/44052050|title=Atletico Madrid win Europa League with 3-0 victory over Marseille|website=BBC|date=16 May 2018}}</ref>
'''Lyon'''

* [[Coupe de la Ligue]] runner-up: [[2019–20 Coupe de la Ligue|2019–20]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 July 2020 |title=Paris St-Germain beat Lyon in French League Cup final for another treble |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53617357 |access-date=16 June 2022 |website=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*Ligue 1 [[Trophées UNFP du football#Manager of the Year|Manager of the Year]]: [[2010–11 Ligue 1#Manager of the Year|2010–11]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportpalmares.eu/Trophees-UNFP-Oscars-du-football,238.html |title=Palmarès Trophées UNFP - Oscars du football - Meilleur entraîneur de Ligue 1 |access-date=2 August 2017 |language=fr |archive-date=2 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802084739/http://www.sportpalmares.eu/Trophees-UNFP-Oscars-du-football,238.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[French Player of the Year#Manager of the Year|French Manager of the Year]]: 2011, 2013, 2014<ref name="RSSSF">{{cite web|first1=Erik |last1=Garin |first2=José Luis |last2=Pierrend |title=France – Footballer of the Year |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=18 January 2018 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/franpoy.html |access-date=18 December 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008104442/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/franpoy.html |archive-date=8 October 2018 }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{UEFA coach|1905214}}
*{{WorldFootball.net}}

{{Current managers of UEFA national teams}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 =
{{AS Saint-Étienne managers}}
{{Dijon FCO managers}}
{{Le Mans FC managers}}
{{Lille OSC managers}}
{{A.S. Roma managers}}
{{Olympique de Marseille managers}}
{{Olympique Lyonnais managers}}
{{Al-Nassr FC managers}}
{{SSC Napoli managers}}
{{Belgium national football team managers}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{Ligue 1 winning managers}}
{{Coupe de France winning managers}}
{{Ligue 1 Manager of the Year}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Garcia, Rudi}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Nemours]]
[[Category:People of Andalusian descent]]
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[[Category:Footballers from Seine-et-Marne]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:AS Corbeil-Essonnes (football) players]]
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[[Category:Lille OSC players]]
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[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
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[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Belgium]]
[[Category:20th-century French sportsmen]]