Gabi
The captain who led Atlético Madrid to its first league title since 1996 and won the Europa League twice.
via Wikipedia: Gabi (footballer, born 1983) · see source
Gabriel Luis Fernández Arenas, better known as Gabi, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He now works as an assistant manager for Atlético Madrid in La Liga. Over his career, he appeared in 429 top-flight Spanish league matches, mostly across two separate stints with Atlético Madrid, with a spell at Real Zaragoza in between. During his decade with Atlético, he played 417 competitive games and scored ten goals, winning both domestic and European trophies. He also played in Qatar for Al Sadd. At the international level, Gabi represented Spain only at youth level.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Gabriel Luis Fernández Arenas
- Born
- 10 July 1983
- Birthplace
- Madrid, Spain
- Height
- 1.80 m / 5 ft 11 in
- Position
- Defensive midfielder
- Current club
- Atlético Madrid (assistant)
- Total caps
- 545
- Total goals
- 29
Facts from the source article.
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.
Did You Know?
- 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.
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