Gabi open to managing Atletico after playing career

Gabi's association with Atletico Madrid may not be over once he calls time on his career.

Despite recently agreeing to a new contract that will keep him at Atletico until 2018, the 33-year-old's plans for his post-playing days have been a regular topic whenever he meets with the media.

Gabi, who rose through the team's youth ranks and has appeared in over 200 matches, admitted he would "love to continue" on at the club when asked if he would consider managing in the future.

"It's clear that I am an Atletico fan and I would love to continue to help," Gabi told Spanish outlet AS, as translated by ESPNFC. "When my time as a player ends, then I will set some other goals."

Since his first promotion to the senior team in 2004, Gabi has evolved into a crucial component in manager Diego Simeone's team after playing an important role in helping the team win the Spanish league title in 2014, as well as appearing in two Champions League finals.

As Atletico Madrid enjoys life atop the standings once again, Gabi couldn't hide his optimism over the current edition of the team when asked to compare it with the Liga-winning side from two years ago.

"No, I don't see it that way," Gabi said when asked if the two teams are similar. "Then we had more veteran players, more experience, with players like (David) Villa, Diego Ribas, Diego Costa ... This team is more motivated to win, more hungry for victory. It is similar in the objectives, but with a different way of playing."