Biography
Gabriel Fernández Arenas born in Madrid, known as Gabi was a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He made 429 La Liga appearances, mostly in two spells at Atlético Madrid interspersed with a period at Zaragoza, winning domestic and European silverware with the former. During his ten-year stint at the club, he amassed competitive totals of 414 matches and ten goals. He also competed professionally in Qatar, with Al Sadd. Gabi represented Spain at youth level. Gabi was born in Madrid. A product of Atlético Madrid's youth system, he was seldom used during his debut season with the Colchoneros' first team. After a loan to Getafe CF, Gabi would make 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, Gabi joined Real Zaragoza on a EUR9 million transfer, agreeing to a four-year contract effective as of July. He was an undisputed starter in his first year, but the Aragonese were relegated from the top flight. Defensive-minded Gabi netted four times in 35 games in the 2008-09 campaign, as his team immediately regained their lost status. In the following season he again was an automatic first choice, helping to a final 14th position. Again a starter in the 2010-11, only missing matches due to suspension, Gabi scored a career-best 11 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 match-day, scored twice from open play in a 2-1 win at Levante UD that secured his team's top-flight status. On 1 July 2011, Gabi returned to Atlético Madrid on a transfer fee of around EUR3 million. He scored his first goal for the team on 4 December, in a 3-1 home win against Rayo Vallecano and started most of his first season in his second spell, partnering fellow youth graduate Mario Suárez in defensive midfield. Gabi played 45 official matches in the 2012-13 campaign, including seven in the club'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 equalize 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. His midfield partner Suárez was also dismissed later on, in an eventual 2-3 home defeat. On 7 October 2016 the 33-year-old inked a new contract until June 2018. 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. He is a Atleti's LEGEND!
