Gabi

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gabi was born in Madrid and came through Atlético Madrid's youth system. After a loan to Getafe CF, he made 52 La Liga appearances for the club from 2005 to 2007, scoring his only goal in a 1–1 away draw against RCD Espanyol on 9 April 2006. In early February 2007, he joined Real Zaragoza on a €9 million transfer. He was an undisputed starter in his first year, but the Aragonese were relegated. Defensive-minded Gabi netted four times in 35 games in the 2008–09 campaign, as his team immediately regained their lost status. In the 2010–11 season, he scored a career-best ten goals as Zaragoza again escaped relegation, six from penalties – he was also their captain. On 12 March 2011, he scored twice from the spot in a 4–0 home win against Valencia CF. On 30 April, he converted a penalty in a 3–2 victory away to Real Madrid and, on the last matchday, scored twice from open play in a 2–1 win at Levante UD that secured his team's top-flight status.

In Their Own Story

On 1 July 2011, Gabi returned to Atlético Madrid on a transfer fee of around €3 million. He scored his first goal for the team on 4 December, in a 3–1 home win over Rayo Vallecano – adding one in his own net. Gabi played 45 official matches in the 2012–13 campaign, including seven in the side's victorious run in the Copa del Rey, the first in 17 years. He was also selected by manager Diego Simeone as the new captain. On 17 May 2014, in the away match to FC Barcelona that was the last of the season, Gabi took a 49th-minute corner kick which was headed in by Diego Godín to equalise 1–1, and give Atlético its first league title since 1996. On 4 July, he signed a new contract that kept him at the club until 2017. In the second leg of a domestic cup quarter-final against Barcelona on 28 January 2015, Gabi was sent off in the tunnel at the end of the first half. On 7 October 2016, the 33-year-old inked a new contract until June 2018, commenting: 'I always say that playing with Atlético de Madrid was my childhood dream, so I cannot ask for more than what I am living these years.' Gabi scored his first goal of the season – from 49 appearances – on 16 May 2018, netting from close range after an assist from Koke in the last minute of the Europa League final against Olympique de Marseille, a 3–0 win in Lyon.

Reader's Guide

Gabi moved abroad for the first time on 2 July 2018, signing a two-year contract at Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd SC. He partnered veteran compatriot Xavi in midfield, and won the league in their first season together. On 15 June 2020, Gabi left the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. On 29 November, he announced his retirement aged 37. In July 2023, Gabi was named manager of Getafe's Juvenil B squad. On 13 November, he took over the B team in the Segunda Federación after the dismissal of Emilio Ferreras. Gabi returned to Zaragoza on 17 March 2025, being appointed first-team head coach in place of Miguel Ángel Ramírez. He managed to avoid second-tier relegation at 51 points, but was sacked on 12 October after a poor start to the new season saw them placed bottom of the table. Gabi reunited with Simeone on 20 June 2026, being named in Atlético Madrid's staff as replacement to Nelson Vivas who left after eight years. Known for his tackling ability as well as his combativeness and hard work, Gabi could both break down opposition attack and dictate play with the ball with equal effectiveness. He was also known to be proficient when in possession, capable of delivering through balls and distributing the ball at both long and short lengths.

Did You Know?

• Gabi scored twice from the penalty spot in a 4–0 home win against Valencia CF on 12 March 2011.
• He scored the first goal of Spain's opening game at the 2003 FIFA U-20 World Cup, a 2–1 loss to Argentina in Sharjah.
• Gabi took the 49th-minute corner kick that Diego Godín headed in to give Atlético its first league title since 1996.
• He scored from close range in the last minute of the 2018 Europa League final, a 3–0 win over Olympique de Marseille.
• Gabi was selected by manager Diego Simeone as the new captain of Atlético Madrid for the 2012–13 season.