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Signed on a three-year deal in July 2007 at the completion of his contract at Colchester United, after Jason Van Blerk and Danny Allsopp, Richard became the third Australian player to represent the Tigers.

An attacking wide midfielder or forward, he honed his skills at West Ham United's academy and was a member of the team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1999.

The young Hammers team, that included the likes of Joe Cole and Michael Carrick, thumped Coventry City 9-0 on aggregate in the Final.

Born in Perth, Richard had his first taste of senior action in a 21-game loan spell at Third Division Leyton Orient in the first-half of the 2000/01 season.

He made his first-team debut for West Ham in a Worthington Cup tie against Reading in September 2001, going on to make a total of 22 appearances (18 as a substitute).

It was former Tigers boss Phil Parkinson who took Richard to Colchester in September 2004, and he played a key role in the Us' remarkable rise from League One also-rans to Championship Play-Off contenders.

He made a total of 98 appearances for the Essex club and scored 21 goals.

Richard played a leading role in the most successful season in the Tigers' history as we won promotion to the top flight for the first time via the 2007/08 Play-Offs.

He was the regular choice on the right side of midfield where he provided a valuable supply of goals, and often in spectacular fashion.

His 35-yard strike against Burnley at the KC Stadium in March won the club's Goal of the Season award.

Having represented Australia from Under-17 to Under-23, three days after featuring in our first-ever top-flight game (against Fulham in August 2008), Richard became the Tigers' first Australian full international.

He came on in the second-half of the Socceroos friendly match 2-2 draw against South Africa at Queens Park Rangers' Loftus Road.

To cap off a memorable few days, Richard then scored a vital goal to rescue a point in the Tigers' first away-day trip in the Premier League. With City trailing 1-0 at Blackburn's Ewood Park, the Australian connected with a Fagan cross to send a looping header over Paul Robinson.

After playing his part City's top-flight survival, Richard was unfortunately sidelined for the first 11 fixtures of the 2009/10 campaign after rupturing knee ligaments in pre-season training. Making his return against Portsmouth in October 2009, the winger forced his way back into the side before a further injury to his knee forced him to miss the final few weeks of the season.

A helpless onlooker as the Tigers bowed out from the Premier League, Richard also faced a race against time to prove his fitness before the 2010 World Cup. Fortunately, it was a race that the winger won. After impressing in the Australia's warm-up matches, he was selected to start in their opening Group game against Germany - a moment he has since described as the pinnacle of his career.

Garcia was a regular inthe side under manager Nigel Pearson in 2010/11, featuring both up-front and on the right of midfield.

A knee problem ended his campaign a game early and after undergoing surgery, Garcia made his comeback in December 2011, his fifth season as a Tiger.

RICHARD GARCIA'S FULL INTERNATIONAL APPEARANCES WHILST WITH HULL CITY
Total up to 31 December 2010: 13 caps
19.08.2008 N v South Africa in London [Queens Park Rangers] (Friendly) - Sub
06.08.2008 A v Holland in Eindhoven (Friendly) - Sub
11.02.2009 A v Japan in Yokohama (World Cup Qualifier) - Sub
01.04.2009 H v Uzbekistan in Sydney (World Cup Qualifier)
06.06.2009 A v Qatar in Doha (World Cup Qualifier) - Sub
01.06.2010 N v Denmark in Johannesburg (Friendly)
05.06.2010 N v USA in Johannesburg (Friendly)
13.06.2010 N v Germany in Durban (World Cup finals)
23.06.2010 N v Serbia in Nelspruit (World Cup finals) - Sub
11.08.2010 A v Slovenia in Ljubljana (Friendly)
07.09.2010 A v Poland in Krakow (Friendly)
08.10.2010 H v Paraguay in Sydney (Friendly)
17.11.2010 A v Egypt in Cairo (Friendly) - Sub

NB Jozy Altidore's loan deal with Hull City expired 30 June 2010. Technically, as he played for USA against England on 12 June 2010, Jozy became the first player to appear in the World Cup finals while contracted to Hull City.