Gabri García

Ajax Gabri's contract at Barcelona was not renewed, and he joined AFC Ajax on a free transfer on 6 June 2006, alongside former teammate Roger García. There, he immediately won the Johan Cruyff Shield in a 3–1 defeat of PSV Eindhoven in August, and was also a key element in a side that lost the Eredivisie on the last matchday, to the same opposition.

In May 2007, Gabri won the KNVB 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.

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

On 25 July 2012, having taken almost no part in the Super League campaign, Gabri changed teams but stayed in the country, agreeing to a contract at FC Lausanne-Sport.

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 with Ecuador, Gabri went on to represent the nation at UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal, not leaving the bench in an eventual group-stage exit.

Coaching career Gabri retired from playing at the age of 35, and immediately returned to Barcelona as assistant to their reserves. In July 2015, as part of a reshuffle by incoming director José Segura, he changed roles within the club, becoming the coach of the Juvenil A.

On 24 October 2017, Gabri was appointed manager at Sion until June 2019, succeeding Paolo Tramezzani. His debut in senior management came five days later in a 5–1 defeat at BSC Young Boys. He won once and lost six times in eight games as the team dropped from seventh to bottom tenth, before being replaced by Maurizio Jacobacci on 7 February.

At the end of December 2018, Gabri signed with FC Andorra with former Barcelona teammate Albert Jorquera as his assistant, following Gerard Piqué's acquisition of the principality-based club in Catalan regional football. They won the Primera Catalana in his first season, achieving a double promotion after buying the place of economically troubled CF Reus Deportiu. On 24 February 2020, after three consecutive losses and seven matches without a win, he was dismissed.

Remaining in the third tier, Gabri managed UE Olot from January to April 2021, leaving by mutual consent. On 1 June that year, he signed for Lleida Esportiu for the next three seasons; he stayed for only one year in the Segunda Federación, in which the side lost in the first round of the playoffs after a goalless draw with seeded Sestao River Club.

Gabri replaced Pedro Munitis at the helm of CE Sabadell FC of Primera Federación in July 2022. The team had a sharp drop in budget and mostly relied on youth, with him fielding 27 players in 17 games, losing nine; he was dismissed on 19 December while lying two points inside the relegation zone.

On 16 June 2023, Gabri was appointed manager at Chinese Super League's Nantong Zhiyun F.C. for the remainder of the season. He resigned on 25 September, subsequently signing for Guangxi Pingguo Haliao F.C. also in the country but in League One.

Managerial statistics

Honours Barcelona La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06 Supercopa de España: 2005 UEFA Champions League: 2005–06

Ajax KNVB Cup: 2006–07, 2009–10 Johan Cruyff Shield: 2006, 2007

Spain U20 FIFA World Youth Championship: 1999

Spain U23 Summer Olympics silver medal: 2000