Gerard Garriga Gibert (born 28 May 1993) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Northern League club Auckland City.

Gerard Garriga
Personal information
Full name Gerard Garriga Gibert[1]
Date of birth (1993-05-28) 28 May 1993 (age 33)
Place of birth El Morell, Spain
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Auckland City
Number 8
Youth career
Gimnàstic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2017 Atlètic Alpicat
2018–2019 Western Springs 36 (3)
2019–2021 Waitakere United 27 (6)
2021 Western Springs 8 (1)
2022– Auckland City 99 (16)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 May 2026

Career

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Born in El Morell, Tarragona, Catalonia, Garriga moved to Lleida in 2012 to study for a Physical education degree, and joined Segona Catalana side Club Atlètic Alpicat.[2] He was a part of the squad which achieved promotion to Primera Catalana during the 2015–16 season, but was sidelined for the most of the campaign due to an injury.[3]

In 2017, after graduating, Garriga was planning on going to a trip to London to improve his English, but went on a trip to New Zealand instead, after a recommendation from Xavi Padrones, a former teammate.[4][5] Initially as a tourist, he subsequently lived in a hostel and worked for a cleaning company before studying in an English school. In December 2017, as his English skills improved, he worked as a waiter.[6]

In February 2018, Garriga signed for Western Springs after being recommended by Albert Riera.[6] In October 2019, he moved to Waitakere United.

In 2021, Garriga returned to Western Springs after Waitakere was disbanded,[7] but played rarely due to knee injuries. In 2022 summer, he joined Auckland City.[8] He won four consecutive OFC Champions League editions with Auckland, being named MVP of the 2022 OFC Champions League final.[5][9]

Career statistics

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As of match played 23 May 2026
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Western Springs 2018 NRFL Premier 202202
2019 NRFL Premier 161161
Total 363363
Waitakere United 2019–20 Premiership 141141
2020–21 Premiership 135135
Total 276276
Western Springs 2021 National League 810081
Auckland City 2022 National League 201005[a]3254
2023 National League 204006[a]02[b]0284
2024 National League 295306[a]01[c]0395
2025 National League 226005[a]04[d]0316
2026 National League 800080
Total 9916302237013119
Career total 17026302237020229
  1. 1 2 3 4 Appearances in OFC Champions League
  2. One appearance in 2022 FIFA Club World Cup; one appearance in 2023 FIFA Club World Cup
  3. Appearance in FIFA Intercontinental Cup
  4. Three appearances in FIFA Club World Cup; one appearance in FIFA Intercontinental Cup

Honours

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References

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  1. 1 2 "FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Squad List" (PDF). FIFA. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  2. "Del Alpicat al Mundial" [From Alpicat to the World Cup] (in Spanish). Diari Segre. 14 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  3. "El crack del C.At Alpicat, Gerard Garriga, ens explica com està passant la lesió de llarga durada" [The baller of C.At Alpicat, Gerard Garriga, tells us how he is going through his long-term injury]. Ivoox (in Catalan). Què ha fet L'Alpicat?. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  4. "Gerard Garriga, el rey de la Champions de Oceanía" [Gerard Garriga, the king of the OFC Champions League] (in Spanish). Diari de Tarragona. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  5. 1 2 "La historia de Gerard Garriga: de camarero a campeón de la Champions de Oceanía" [The story of Gerard Garriga: from waiter to OFC Champions League winner] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Garriga: Club World Cup is a fantastic opportunity for Auckland". FIFA.com. 3 December 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  7. "2021 Northern and Central League Player Lists". New Zealand Football. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  8. "Gerard Garriga". Auckland City FC. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  9. "El morellense que se enfrentará a Harry Kane, Ángel Di María o Edinson Cavani en el Mundial de Clubes" [The morellense who will face Harry Kane, Ángel Di María or Edinson Cavani in the Club World Cup] (in Spanish). Diari Més. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  10. "Auckland City FC Claim Back-to-Back Dettol National League Championships With Penalty Shootout Win Over Wellington Olympic". New Zealand Football. 13 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025 via Instagram.
  11. "Team of the Season | Men's Dettol National League ⭐️". New Zealand Football. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2025 via Instagram.
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