Top 100 First Take: Gav Harmer on Atletico’s Ambition

Podcast Episode Summary

In the inaugural episode of the Top 100 podcast series, host Regan Thompson chats with Atlético Madrid manager Gav Harmer, a “real life legend” and “veteran of the game” who is part of the 1,000-game club.

Gav reflects on Atlético Madrid’s heartbreaking end to last season, where they missed out on a playoff place due to an 89th-minute goal from Tyrone Mings — “in the last minute of the game”. Despite the setback, he remains optimistic for the future, saying his side is “starting to get better, get bigger, bigger ratings” and that “things are looking good.”

The conversation then turns to key player movements:

• The successful acquisition of Pedro, now “banging them in for Chelsea.”
• The “big move” of Ilya Zabarnyi to PSG, with his stock expected to rise quickly.
• Angelo Stiller, described as “too good for Stuttgart.”
• Robert Sánchez, who has regained his “number one spot” at Chelsea.

Looking ahead, Gav recognises the tough competition awaiting in Division Two. Strong sides like Sporting Lisbon, Espanyol, Tottenham, and Cologne have all come down from Division One, while clubs like CSKA Moscow and Augsburg are coming up from Division Three.

His strategy is firmly focused on developing his current squad, explaining he’s “very happy with the team” and doesn’t expect much transfer activity “unless something major happens.” He likens the journey to “taking two steps back to take one forward.”

The episode wraps up with Gav praising the community spirit and offering a big thank you to David Marsden for his “absolutely fantastic” work on the archive.

Very Brief Timeline Guide

• The Near Miss: Atlético Madrid’s playoff heartbreak and the infamous Tyrone Mings last-minute goal.
• New Season Challenges: Insights into strong relegated sides from Division One, new arrivals from Division Three, and big transfer moves (Pedro, Zabarnyi, Stiller, Sánchez).
• Future Outlook: Gav’s development-first strategy, his “two steps back” philosophy, and appreciation for community contributions like David’s archive.