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Girona FC

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Girona
Full nameGirona Futbol Club, S.A.D.
Nickname(s)Blanquivermells (White and Reds), Gironistes
Founded23 July 1930; 94 years ago (1930-07-23)
GroundEstadi Montilivi
Capacity14,624[1]
OwnerCity Football Group (47%)
Marcelo Claure (35%)
Girona Football Group (16%)
Others (1–2%)[2]
PresidentDelfí Geli
Head coachMíchel
LeagueLa Liga
2023–24La Liga, 3rd of 20
Websitegironafc.cat
Current season

Girona Futbol Club, S.A.D. (Catalan: [ʒiˈɾonə] ⓘ zhi-RO-nuh) is a Spanish professional football club based in Girona, Catalonia. 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 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.

History

[edit]

Football became of 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 the original name of FC Gerundense).[4] Some of the team's first players were Narciso Callicó and Salvador Hormeu, both of whom went on to play for FC Barcelona.[5] In the 1920s, football gained strength with clubs such as CE Gironí, founded in 1921, but above all by Unió Deportiva Girona, founded on 13 February of the same year, when the elements united of the Sports Center Gironenc, heirs of the dissolved Strong, with other sports enthusiasts.[5] The club soon became the strongest in the city. UD Girona, however, disappeared in 1929 due to financial problems, following a debt of around 200,000 pesetas (a real fortune for those times).[5] After the disappearance of the UD Girona it was decided to create a new football team in the city.[6]

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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8][9]

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.[10]

In 2011, Girona created a reserve team, having previously grown a natural grass pitch in Palau.[11] 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.[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]

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 and were promoted to La Liga in the play-offs, beating Tenerife 3–1 on aggregate in the final.[17] In the 2022–23 season they finished 10th with 49 points, 4 points away from a 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] On 4 May 2024, Girona achieved a 4–2 victory over Barcelona, securing their first qualification to the UEFA Champions League and its first European qualification and finished the season in 3rd place with 81 points.[20]

In the 2024–25 season, Girona played their first competitive international match against French-side Paris Saint-Germain in a 1–0 loss at the Parc des Princes on 18 September.[21] David López converted Girona's first international goal when he scored the opening goal of a 2–3 loss against Dutch-side Feyenoord on 2 October.[22]

Training centre

[edit]

The club's new training facilities have been under construction since December 2017,[23] 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+1⁄2 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.[24]

Season to season

[edit]
Main article: List of Girona FC seasons
Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey
1933–34 3 3ª 1st
1934–35 2 2ª 4th Third round
1935–36 2 2ª 1st Round of 16
1939–40 2 2ª 3rd First round
1940–41 2 2ª 4th Third round
1941–42 2 2ª 5th
1942–43 2 2ª 6th
1943–44 3 3ª 5th Second round
1944–45 3 3ª 3rd
1945–46 3 3ª 6th
1946–47 3 3ª 4th
1947–48 3 3ª 1st Third round
1948–49 2 2ª 10th Round of 16
1949–50 2 2ª 9th Third round
1950–51 2 2ª 16th
1951–52 3 3ª 6th
1952–53 3 3ª 8th
1953–54 3 3ª 2nd
1954–55 3 3ª 1st
1955–56 3 3ª 2nd
Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey
1956–57 2 2ª 9th
1957–58 2 2ª 9th
1958–59 2 2ª 15th First round
1959–60 3 3ª 11th
1960–61 3 3ª 4th
1961–62 3 3ª 2nd
1962–63 3 3ª 4th
1963–64 3 3ª 6th
1964–65 3 3ª 7th
1965–66 3 3ª 7th
1966–67 3 3ª 3rd
1967–68 3 3ª 8th
1968–69 3 3ª 11th
1969–70 3 3ª 3rd Second round
1970–71 3 3ª 2nd First round
1971–72 3 3ª 8th First round
1972–73 3 3ª 2nd Second round
1973–74 3 3ª 3rd First round
1974–75 3 3ª 6th Second round
1975–76 3 3ª 3rd First round
Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey
1976–77 3 3ª 2nd Third round
1977–78 3 2ª B 6th Third round
1978–79 3 2ª B 13th Third round
1979–80 3 2ª B 19th First round
1980–81 4 3ª 7th
1981–82 4 3ª 18th
1982–83 5 Reg. Pref. 1st
1983–84 4 3ª 9th
1984–85 4 3ª 7th
1985–86 4 3ª 2nd
1986–87 4 3ª 7th First round
1987–88 3 2ª B 19th
1988–89 4 3ª 1st First round
1989–90 3 2ª B 12th
1990–91 3 2ª B 7th Second round
1991–92 3 2ª B 3rd
1992–93 3 2ª B 15th Third round
1993–94 3 2ª B 15th First round
1994–95 3 2ª B 18th First round
1995–96 4 3ª 13th
Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey
1996–97 4 3ª 19th
1997–98 5 1ª Cat. 5th
1998–99 5 1ª Cat. 1st
1999–2000 4 3ª 7th
2000–01 4 3ª 8th
2001–02 4 3ª 9th
2002–03 4 3ª 2nd
2003–04 3 2ª B 7th
2004–05 3 2ª B 17th Round of 32
2005–06 4 3ª 1st
2006–07 4 3ª 2nd First round
2007–08 3 2ª B 1st
2008–09 2 2ª 16th Third round
2009–10 2 2ª 14th Third round
2010–11 2 2ª 11th Second round
2011–12 2 2ª 15th Second round
2012–13 2 2ª 4th Second round
2013–14 2 2ª 15th Round of 32
2014–15 2 2ª 3rd Third round
2015–16 2 2ª 4th Second round
Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey
2016–17 2 2ª 2nd Second round
2017–18 1 1ª 10th Round of 32
2018–19 1 1ª 18th Quarter-finals
2019–20 2 2ª 5th Round of 32
2020–21 2 2ª 5th Round of 16
2021–22 2 2ª 6th Round of 16
2022–23 1 1ª 10th Second round
2023–24 1 1ª 3rd Quarter-finals
2024–25 1 1ª

European record

[edit]
Season Competition Round Country Opponent Home Away
2024–25 UEFA Champions League League phase France Paris Saint-Germain — 0–1
Netherlands Feyenoord 2–3 —
Slovakia Slovan Bratislava 2–0 —
Netherlands PSV Eindhoven — 0–4
Austria Sturm Graz —
England Liverpool —
Italy Milan —
England Arsenal —

Players

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First team squad

[edit]
As of 30 August 2024[25]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Spain ESP Juan Carlos
3 DF Spain ESP Miguel Gutiérrez
4 DF Spain ESP Arnau Martínez (3rd captain)
5 DF Spain ESP David López
6 MF Netherlands NED Donny van de Beek
7 FW Uruguay URU Cristhian Stuani (captain)
8 FW Ukraine UKR Viktor Tsyhankov
9 FW Spain ESP Abel Ruiz
10 FW Colombia COL Yáser Asprilla
11 FW Netherlands NED Arnaut Danjuma (on loan from Villarreal)
13 GK Argentina ARG Paulo Gazzaniga
14 MF Spain ESP Oriol Romeu (on loan from Barcelona)
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 DF Spain ESP Juanpe
16 DF Spain ESP Alejandro Francés
17 DF Netherlands NED Daley Blind
18 DF Czech Republic CZE Ladislav Krejčí
19 FW North Macedonia MKD Bojan Miovski
20 FW Spain ESP Bryan Gil (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
21 MF Venezuela VEN Yangel Herrera
22 MF Colombia COL Jhon Solís
23 MF Spain ESP Iván Martín (vice-captain)
24 FW Spain ESP Portu
25 GK Spain ESP Pau López (on loan from Marseille)
27 FW Netherlands NED Gabriel Misehouy

Reserve team

[edit]
Main article: Girona FC B

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
28 MF Spain ESP Silvi Clua
29 FW South Korea KOR Kim Min-su
30 MF Spain ESP Enric García
31 FW Portugal POR Jastin García
33 DF Spain ESP Marc Aznar
34 FW Venezuela VEN Juan Arango
35 DF Hungary HUN Antal Yaakobishvili
36 MF Spain ESP Ricard Artero
No. Pos. Nation Player
37 MF Spain ESP Raúl Martínez
41 GK Spain ESP Pau García
42 GK Spain ESP Lucas García
43 GK Bulgaria BUL Aleksandar Andreev
44 FW Senegal SEN Papa Ba
45 DF Spain ESP Ferran Ruiz
46 FW Mauritania MTN Dawda Camara

Out on loan

[edit]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK Spain ESP Toni Fuidias (at Cartagena until 30 June 2025)
— DF Spain ESP Valery Fernández (at Mallorca until 30 June 2025)
— MF Mali MLI Ibrahima Kébé (at Lommel until 30 June 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW Morocco MAR Ilyas Chaira (at Oviedo until 30 June 2025)
— FW Spain ESP Joel Roca (at Mirandés until 30 June 2025)

Club officials

[edit]

Current technical staff

[edit]
Position Staff
Head coach Spain Míchel
Assistant coach Spain Salvador Fúnez
Fitness coach Spain David Porcel
Goalkeeping coach Spain Juan Carlos Balaguer

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

Board of directors

[edit]
Office Name
President Delfí Geli
Chairman Pere Guardiola
Board members Marcelo Claure
John MacBeath
Roger Solé
Simon Cliff
Ingo Bank
Secretary of the Board Ricard Capdevila
Chief executive officer Ignacio Mas-Bagà

Last updated: December 2022
Source: Girona FC

Coaches

[edit]

Honours

[edit]

Domestic

[edit]

Regional titles

[edit]

Player records

[edit]

Most appearances

[edit]

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

Rank Player Years League Cup Europe Other Total
1 Uruguay Cristhian Stuani 2017–present 228 11 0 10 247
2 Spain Juanpe 2016–present 224 10 0 12 246
3 Spain Borja García 2015–2020
2021–2024		 215 9 0 9 233
4 Spain Álex Granell 2014–2020 214 8 0 10 232
5 Spain Migue 2007–2014 224 7 0 0 231
6 Spain Pere Pons 2013–2019 198 7 0 6 211
7 Spain Aday Benítez 2014–2021 185 5 0 9 199
8 Spain Jonás Ramalho 2013–2021 168 20 0 3 191
9 Spain José 2005–2013 167 4 0 4 175
10 Spain Jandro 2010–2015 165 7 0 3 175

Top goalscorers

[edit]

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

Rank Player Years League Cup Europe Matches Total
1 Uruguay Cristhian Stuani 2017–present 120 6 0 247 129
2 Spain Portu 2016–2019
2023–present		 35 2 0 152 37
3 Spain Jandro 2010–2015 36 1 0 175 37
4 Spain Felipe Sanchón 2005–2006
2009
2012–2017		 35 1 0 153 36
5 Spain Fran Sandaza 2014–2015
2016–2018		 25 0 0 73 25
6 Paraguay Javier Acuña 2011–2013 21 0 0 57 21
7 Spain Jaime Mata 2014–2016 21 0 0 82 21
8 Spain Borja García 2015–2020
2021–2024		 21 0 0 233 21
9 Spain Roberto Peragón 2009–2011 20 0 0 76 20
10 Serbia Ranko Despotović 2010–2011 18 1 0 35 19

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  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 c "Pequeño historial del fútbol gerundense" [A brief history of Girona football] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Historia" [History] (in Spanish). Girona's official website. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "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.
  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. ^ "Girona 4–2 Barcelona". BBC Sport. 4 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Gazzaniga howler gifts PSG 1-0 win over Girona". Reuters. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Feyenoord edge luckless Girona in five-goal thriller". Reuters. 2 October 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  23. ^ "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.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ "First team". Girona FC. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
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