Gabri García

Gabri

Gabri in 2006
Personal information
Full name Gabriel Francisco García de la Torre
Date of birth (1979-02-10) 10 February 1979
Place of birth Sallent, Spain
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
Barcelona (youth)
Youth career
Sallent
Sabadell
1993–1997 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2000 Barcelona B 67 (9)
1999–2006 Barcelona 129 (7)
2006–2010 Ajax 86 (7)
2010–2011 Umm-Salal 13 (3)
2011 Sion II 2 (1)
2011 Sion 5 (0)
2012–2014 Lausanne-Sport 28 (1)
Total 330 (28)
National team
1994–1995 Spain U16 8 (2)
1996–1998 Spain U18 10 (1)
1999 Spain U20 7 (3)
1999–2001 Spain U21 17 (0)
2000 Spain U23 6 (3)
2003–2004 Spain 3 (0)
2000–2006 Catalonia 4 (0)
Teams managed
2014–2015 Barcelona B (assistant)
2015– Barcelona (youth)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is García and the second or maternal family name is De la Torre.

Gabriel Francisco García de la Torre (born 10 February 1979), known as Gabri, is a Spanish retired footballer. Mainly a midfielder who could play in the right or the middle, he could also appear as an attacking right back, tackling and passing skills being his main assets.

He spent seven years of his professional career with Barcelona (13 counting youth teams), winning four major titles but appearing almost exclusively as a backup. He also played four years with Ajax.

Gabri represented Spain at Euro 2004.

Club career

Barcelona

Born in Sallent de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Gabri started his professional career at FC Barcelona's B-team, where he made his first appearances in the 1997–98 season with the club in Segunda División B. He scored four goals in 28 games en route to promotion.

He was promoted to the main squad for the 1999–2000 campaign and, in the following four years, was a first-team regular but, subsequently and during the team's conquests in 2005–06 (for an eventual total of two La Liga championships, one Spanish Supercup and 2005–06's UEFA Champions League), would feature less significantly; he was also severely injured during the 2004–05 season, after a 4–1 home win against Real Zaragoza.[1]

Ajax

Gabri's contract at Barcelona was not renewed,[2] and he joined AFC Ajax on a free transfer on 6 June 2006,[3] alongside former teammate Roger García. There, he immediately won the Dutch Supercup in a 3–1 win over PSV Eindhoven in August, and was also a key element in a side that lost the 2007 national championship on the last matchday, to precisely PSV.

In May 2007, Gabri won the Dutch Cup on penalties against AZ Alkmaar, in a match where he received a red card in the 79th minute. In August, Ajax successfully defended their Supercup title by beating PSV again, with him as the only goalscorer in the match.[4]

Later years

On 27 May 2010, after a last poor individual season with Ajax – only 13 matches, even though the Amsterdam club finished in second place – 31-year-old Gabri signed with Qatar Stars League side Umm-Salal Sports Club.[5] On 4 July of the following year he moved clubs and countries again, joining FC Sion in Switzerland.[6]

On 25 July 2012, after having taken almost no part in the Super League campaign, Gabri changed teams but stayed in the country, signing a contract with FC Lausanne-Sport.[7] He retired two years later at the age of 35, and immediately returned to Barcelona as assistant to the reserve team.[8]

International career

Gabri was a key element in Spain's squad at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship, scoring three goals to become World Champion of the category. He was also a member of the national team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

After making his full debut on 30 April 2003 in a friendly match with Ecuador,[9] Gabri went on to represent the nation during UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal,[10] not leaving the bench in an eventual group stage exit.

Honours

Club

Barcelona
Ajax

Country

Spain U20
Spain U23

References

External links

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