Girona FC

Girona Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Founded on 23 July 1930, the team plays in La Liga, to which they gained promotion in the 2022 Segunda División play-offs.[3]

Girona
Full nameGirona Futbol Club, S.A.D.
Nickname(s)Blanquivermells (White and Reds), Gironistes
Founded23 July 1930; 93 years ago (1930-07-23)
GroundEstadio Municipal de Montilivi
Capacity14,624[1]
OwnerCity Football Group (47%)
Marcelo Claure (35%)
Girona Football Group (16%)
Others (1–2%)[2]
PresidentDelfí Geli
ManagerMíchel Sánchez
LeagueLa Liga
2022–23La Liga, 10th of 20
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Girona holds its home matches at the 14,624-capacity Estadi Montilivi. It is a part of City Football Group Limited. The club also has youth and amateur women's teams for competition.

Historyedit

Football became of a particular interest in Girona at the beginning of the 20th century. The first major club in the city was Strong Esport (founded in 1902 under original name of FC Gerundense).[4] In the 1920s in Girona there were two new clubs, CE Gironí and UD Girona. After the disappearance of the UD Girona it was decided to create a new football team in the city.[5]

On 23 July 1930, in the café Norat in La Rambla of Girona, Girona Futbol Club was founded upon the dissolution of Unió Esportiva Girona for economic reasons. On 1 August 1930, the city council authorized the club so that it could use the city's emblem on its badges. It was achieved thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts led by the club's first president Albert de Quintana de León.[5] The team subsequently entered in the second division of the Catalan Championships. Its first official match was against Colònia Artigas with the lineup: Florenza, Teixidor, Farró, Flavià, Comas, Corradi, Ferrer, Escuder, Clara, Torrellas and Taradellas.

1935–36 was the first season Girona played in Segunda División, and the club finished in top position in its group, subsequently appearing in the playoff stage against Celta de Vigo, Real Zaragoza, Arenas Club, Real Murcia and Xerez, but finishing second from bottom, thus out of the La Liga promotion zone.

Chart of Girona FC league performance 1929–2023

After the Spanish Civil War, the club fluctuated between the second level and Tercera División, falling into the latter category in 1959 and being further demoted in 1980 – Segunda División B was created as the new division three in 1977, and the club lasted three years in the competition. In 1968, construction of the Estadi Montilivi began, with home matches being held there on a permanent basis from 1970 onwards after nearly five decades at the Vista Alegre stadium.

In the following decades, Girona alternated between the third and the fourth divisions, even spending three seasons in the regional championships, in 1982–83 and 1997–99.[6] On 16 June 2008, after defeating Ceuta 1–0 in the play-offs, the Raül Agné-led side achieved a second consecutive promotion, returning to the second tier after a 49-year absence.[7][8]

On 22 July 2010, a group of local businessmen led by Ramon Vilaró, Joaquim Boadas and Josep Slim purchased 72% of the club's shares, previously held by former club president Josep Gusó and Josep Rofes, thus becoming the new owners of Girona. Vilaró was elected the new president while Agné, after a spell with Recreativo, returned as manager for the upcoming second division campaign, lasting in the position until 14 January 2012 when he was sacked following a 0–3 loss at Recreativo.[9]

In 2011, Girona created a reserve team, having previously grown a natural grass pitch in Palau.[10] On 9 May 2013, the club's board of directors, under the slogan "El Girona FC també és meu" ("Girona FC is mine too"), approved an increase of the club's capital in 300,000 to be distributed in €10 shares, aiming to balance its estate.[11] As of 2024 Girona stands at a total market value of €125.3m [12]

On the last matchday of the 2014–15 season, Girona needed to beat Lugo at home to earn promotion to La Liga, but were denied by a last-minute goal by the visitors. Girona had to settle for a play-off place, but were eliminated in the semi-finals by Real Zaragoza, despite winning the first leg 3–0. The next season, they reached the play-off final but were defeated by Osasuna. Girona finally earned promotion to La Liga after the 2016–17 season as they finished runners-up to Levante. This was the first time that Girona had ever been promoted to La Liga in their 87-year history.[13]

On 23 August 2017, it was announced City Football Group (CFG), a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi United Group, had purchased 44.3% ownership in Girona. Another 44.3% was held by Girona Football Group, led by Pere Guardiola, the brother of CFG-owned Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.[14] On 29 October 2017, Girona recorded a memorable victory, defeating reigning Champions League winners Real Madrid 2–1.[15][16]

In July 2018, it was announced that Girona would be participating in their first ever pre-season international tournament, held in India by Nippon Toyota. Girona faced the Indian team Kerala Blasters and the Australian Team Melbourne City.

On the last match day of the 2018–19 La Liga season, Girona were relegated to Segunda Division, after losing 2–1 against Deportivo Alavés, ending their two-year spell in the Spanish top tier. In the 2021–22 season Girona finished sixth in the Segunda Division but managed to achieve promotion to La Liga after winning the play-off final 3–1 on aggregate against Tenerife.[17]

Girona made a stellar[tone] campaign in their return back to La Liga in the 2022–23 season, finishing 10th place with 49 points, 4 points away from UEFA Europa Conference League play-off spot.

In the 2023–24 season, Girona reached the top 4 of La Liga for the first time after 2 matches, soon reaching the top of the La Liga table after 7 matches with 19 points, the club's best-ever start in top flight football. On 10 December 2023, they defeated FC Barcelona in the league for the first time, a 2–4 away victory taking them to the top of the table with 41 points and just 1 defeat, their best ever record in La Liga after just 16 rounds.[18] As of 5 February 2024, they sat second in the La Liga table, with 56 points from 23 games, and with only a single loss, placing them 2 points behind Real Madrid.[19]

Training centreedit

The club's new training facilities have been under construction since December 2017,[20] located at the PGA Catalunya Golf Course complex to the south of Girona. Occupying an area of 20,000 m2 (220,000 sq ft), the new complex will serve as the exclusive training centre of the club for the next 3+12 years. It will be home to a 110 m × 72 m (361 ft × 236 ft) training pitch of hybrid grass as well as a 160 m × 72 m (525 ft × 236 ft) pitch of natural grass, in addition to indoor training facilities.[21]

Season to seasonedit

SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
1933–3431st
1934–3524thThird round
1935–3621stRound of 16
1939–4023rdFirst round
1940–4124thThird round
1941–4225th
1942–4326th
1943–4435thSecond round
1944–4533rd
1945–4636th
1946–4734th
1947–4831stThird round
1948–49210thRound of 16
1949–5029thThird round
1950–51216th
1951–5236th
1952–5338th
1953–5432nd
1954–5531st
1955–5632nd
SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
1956–5729th
1957–5829th
1958–59215thFirst round
1959–60311th
1960–6134th
1961–6232nd
1962–6334th
1963–6436th
1964–6537th
1965–6637th
1966–6733rd
1967–6838th
1968–69311th
1969–7033rdSecond round
1970–7132ndFirst round
1971–7238thFirst round
1972–7332ndSecond round
1973–7433rdFirst round
1974–7536thSecond round
1975–7633rdFirst round
SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
1976–7732ndThird round
1977–7832ª B6thThird round
1978–7932ª B13thThird round
1979–8032ª B19thFirst round
1980–8147th
1981–82418th
1982–835Reg. Pref.1st
1983–8449th
1984–8547th
1985–8642nd
1986–8747thFirst round
1987–8832ª B19th
1988–8941stFirst round
1989–9032ª B12th
1990–9132ª B7thSecond round
1991–9232ª B3rd
1992–9332ª B15thThird round
1993–9432ª B15thFirst round
1994–9532ª B18thFirst round
1995–96413th
SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
1996–97419th
1997–9851ª Cat.5th
1998–9951ª Cat.1st
1999–200047th
2000–0148th
2001–0249th
2002–0342nd
2003–0432ª B7th
2004–0532ª B17thRound of 32
2005–0641st
2006–0742ndFirst round
2007–0832ª B1st
2008–09216thThird round
2009–10214thThird round
2010–11211thSecond round
2011–12215thSecond round
2012–1324thSecond round
2013–14215thRound of 32
2014–1523rdThird round
2015–1624thSecond round
SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCopa del Rey
2016–1722ndSecond round
2017–18110thRound of 32
2018–19118thQuarter-finals
2019–2025thRound of 32
2020–2125thRound of 16
2021–2226thRound of 16
2022–23110thSecond round
2023–241Quarter-finals

Playersedit

First team squadedit

As of 20 January 2024[22]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
16MF  BRASávio (on loan from Troyes)
17DF  NEDDaley Blind
18MF  ESPPablo Torre (on loan from Barcelona)
19MF  ESPToni Villa
20DF  BRAYan Couto (on loan from Manchester City)
21MF  VENYangel Herrera
22MF  COLJhon Solís
23MF  ESPIván Martín
24FW  ESPPortu
25DF  ESPEric García (on loan from Barcelona)
26GK  ESPToni Fuidias

Reserve teamedit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
32MF  ESPEnric García
34FW  VENJuan Arango
35DF  HUNAntal Yaakobishvili
36MF  ESPRicard Artero

Out on loanedit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
FW  ESPGabri Martínez (at Mirandés until 30 June 2024)
FW  ESPArnau Ortiz (at Cartagena until 30 June 2024)
FW  DOMÓscar Ureña (at Leganés until 30 June 2024)
FW  ESPManu Vallejo (at Zaragoza until 30 June 2024)

Club officialsedit

Current technical staffedit

PositionStaff
Manager Míchel Sánchez
Assistant manager Salvador Fúnez
Fitness coach David Porcel
Goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Balaguer

Last updated: 8 November 2021
Source: Girona (in Spanish)

Board of directorsedit

OfficeName
PresidentDelfí Geli
Board presidentPere Guardiola
Board membersMarcelo Claure
John MacBeath
Roger Solé
Simon Cliff
Ingo Bank
Secretary of the BoardRicard Capdevila
Chief executive officerIgnacio Mas-Bagà

Last updated: December 2022
Source: Girona FC

Coachesedit

Honoursedit

Nationaledit

Regional titlesedit

Player recordsedit

Most appearancesedit

Competitive, professional matches only.Up to date as of 24 March 2024

RankPlayerYearsLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotal
1 Juanpe2016–present22110012243
2 Cristhian Stuani2017–present22111010242
3 Borja García2015–2020
2021–present
215909233
4 Álex Granell2014–20202148010232
5 Migue2007–2014224700231
6 Pere Pons2013–2019198706211
7 Aday Benítez2014–2021185509199
8 Jonás Ramalho2013–20211682003191
9 José2005–2013167404175
10 Jandro2010–2015165703175

Top goalscorersedit

Competitive, professional matches only.Up to date as of 24 March 2024

RankPlayerYearsLeagueCupEuropeMatchesTotal
1 Cristhian Stuani2017–present12160242127
2 Jandro2010–2015361017537
3 Felipe Sanchón2005–2006
2009
2012–2017
351015336
4 Portu2016–2019
2023–present
312014234
5 Fran Sandaza2014–2015
2016–2018
25007325
6 Javier Acuña2011–201321005721
7 Jaime Mata2014–201621008221
8 Borja García2015–2020
2021–present
210023321
9 Roberto Peragón2009–201120007620
10 Ranko Despotović2010–201118103519

See alsoedit

Referencesedit

  1. ^ "La conexión ucraniana, a la conquista de Montilivi" (in Spanish). 20 August 2023. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Marcelo Claure strengthen the Girona FC project | Girona - Web Oficial". Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Girona return to La Liga after winning promotion playoff - Get Spanish Football News". getfootballnewsspain.com. 20 June 2022. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  4. ^ "HISTORIA DEL CLUB | Girona - Web Oficial". HISTORIA DEL CLUB | Girona - Web Oficial (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 October 2019.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b "Análisis a fondo del rival: Girona FC SAD". SPORTARAGON.com (in Spanish). 11 September 2015. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Historia" [History] (in Spanish). Girona's official website. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  7. ^ "El Girona entona el alirón" [Girona sings "We are the champions"] (PDF) (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 16 June 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  8. ^ "El Girona aconsegueix un ascens històric a la Segona Divisió en vèncer el Ceuta per la mínima (1–0)" [Girona achieves historic promotion to Second Division by beating Ceuta by odd goal (1–0)] (in Catalan). Esport 3. 16 June 2008. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Cesado por sus malos resultados deportivos" [Fired for poor sporting results] (in Spanish). Huelva Ya. 14 January 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  10. ^ "El Llagostera entrena en el campo del Girona" [Llagostera trains in Girona pitch] (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  11. ^ "El Girona FC también es mío" [El Girona FC también es mío] (in Spanish). Girona's official website. 9 May 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  12. ^ "Girona FC market value". 13 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Girona promoted to la Liga for first time in 87 years | : The World Game". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  14. ^ "Girona FC, acquired by new investors" (in Catalan). Girona FC. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Real Madrid suffer shock defeat at Girona on first visit to Catalan club". TheGuardian.com. 29 October 2017. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  16. ^ "Real Madrid stunned as Girona record shock win". 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  17. ^ "El resumen del Tenerife vs. Girona del Playoff de ascenso a Primera 2022 y LaLiga 2022-2023: vídeo, goles y estadísticas" (in Spanish). Goal.com. 19 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Barcelona 2 Girona 4". BBC Sport. 10 December 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Girona Scores, Stats and Highlights". ESPN. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Comienza la instalación del césped en los nuevos campos de entrenamiento del Girona en el PGA Catalunya Resort de Caldes de Malavella" [The installation of the turf begins in the new Girona training camps at the PGA Catalunya Resort in Caldes de Malavella] (in Spanish). 18 January 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  21. ^ "El Girona FC estrenará en enero dos nuevos campos de entrenamiento en el PGA Catalunya Resort de Caldes" [Girona FC debut in January two new training camps in the PGA Catalunya Resort in Caldes] (in Spanish). 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  22. ^ "First team". Girona FC. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.

External linksedit

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