Girona FC explained

Girona Futbol Club, S.A.D. (pronounced as /ca/) 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 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

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. 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.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, four points away from a UEFA Europa Conference League play-off spot.

In the 2023–24 season, Girona reached the top four of La Liga for the first time after two matches, soon reaching the top of the La Liga table after seven 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 one defeat, their best ever record in La Liga after just 16 rounds.^[18] On 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 two 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 third 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

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, the new complex will serve as the exclusive training centre of the club for the next years. It will be home to a training pitch of hybrid grass as well as a pitch of natural grass, in addition to indoor training facilities.^[24]

Season to season

See main article: List of Girona FC seasons. ^[25]

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 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 16th Second round 2025–26 1 1ª Second round

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• 6 seasons in La Liga
• 24 seasons in Segunda División
• 13 seasons in Segunda División B
• 44 seasons in Tercera División
• 3 seasons in Categorías Regionales

European record

Season	Competition	Round	Country	Opponent	Home	Away	Aggregate
2024–25	UEFA Champions League	League phase		Paris Saint-Germain		0–1	33rd
				Feyenoord	2–3
				Slovan Bratislava	2–0
				PSV Eindhoven		0–4
				Sturm Graz		0–1
				Liverpool	0–1
				Milan		0–1
				Arsenal	1–2

Players

First team squad

^[26]

Reserve team

See main article: Girona FC B.

Out on loan

Club officials

Board of directors

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 Coaches Francisco Bru (1937–39) Károly Plattkó (1948–49) Hilario (1949–50) Domènec Balmanya (1952) Emilio Aldecoa (1955–57), (1959–60) Dagoberto Moll (1965–66) Emilio Aldecoa (1967–68) Vicenç Sasot (1972–74) Emilio Aldecoa (1974–76) Lluís Coll (1976) Vicenç Sasot (1979–80) Pepe Pinto (1980–81), (1981–82) Luis Costa (1981–82) Emilio Aldecoa (1982) Antonio Lagunas (1987) Alfonso Muñoz Jaso (1987–88), (1993–95) José Manuel (1988) Paco Bonachera (1993) Pere Gratacós (1997–99) Narcís Julià (2003) Agustín Abadía (2003–04) Josep María Nogués (2005) Joan Carrillo (2006–07) Ricardo Rodríguez (2007) Raül Agné (2007–09) Javi Salamero (2009) Miquel Olmo (2009) Cristóbal Parralo (2009) Narcís Julià (2009–10) Raül Agné (2010–12) Josu Uribe (2012) Javi Salamero (2012) Rubi (2012–13) Ricardo Rodríguez (2013) Javi López (2013–14) Pablo Machín (2014–18) Eusebio Sacristán (2018–19) Juan Carlos Unzué (2019) José Luis Martí (2019–20) Francisco (2020–21) Míchel (2021–) Honours Domestic Segunda División B Winners (1): 2007–08 Tercera División Winners (5): 1933–34, 1947–48, 1954–55, 1988–89, 2005–06 Regional titles Supercopa de Catalunya Winners (1): 2019 Copa Catalunya Winners (1): 2025 Player records Most appearances Competitive, professional matches only.Up to date as of 24 August 2024 width=6% Rank width=20% Player width=12% Years width=12% League width=12% Cup width=12% Europe width=12% Other width=14% Total 1 2 Juanpe 3 Borja García 2015–2020 2021–2024 4 2014–2020 5 Migue 2007–2014 6 2013–2019 7 2014–2021 8 2013–2021 9 José 2005–2013 10 Jandro 2010–2015 Top goalscorers Competitive, professional matches only.Up to date as of 24 August 2024 width=6% Rank width=20% Player width=12% Years width=12% League width=12% Cup width=12% Europe width=12% Matches width=14% Total 1 2 Portu 2016–2019 2023–present 3 Jandro 2010–2015 4 2005–2006 2009 2012–2017 5 2014–2015 2016–2018 6 2023–2024 7 2011–2013 8 2014–2016 9 Borja García 2015–2020 2021–2024 10 2009–2011 See also CF Peralada-Girona B Girona FC B CF Riudellots External links Girona FC at BDFutbol

Notes and References

1. News: La conexión ucraniana, a la conquista de Montilivi . 20 August 2023 . es . 27 October 2023 . 25 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825103339/https://as.com/futbol/primera/la-conexion-ucraniana-a-la-conquista-de-montilivi-n/ . live .
2. Web site: Marcelo Claure strengthen the Girona FC project | Girona – Web Oficial . 27 January 2021 . 15 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210415034109/https://www.gironafc.cat/en/news/marcelo-claure-strengthen-the-girona-fc-project . live .
3. Web site: 2022-06-20 . Girona return to La Liga after winning promotion playoff - Get Spanish Football News . 2023-01-03 . getfootballnewsspain.com . en-US . 3 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230103193237/https://getfootballnewsspain.com/girona-return-to-la-liga-after-winning-promotion-playoff/ . live .
4. Web site: HISTORIA DEL CLUB Girona – Web Oficial. HISTORIA DEL CLUB Girona – Web Oficial. es. 2019-10-18.
5. Web site: Pequeño historial del fútbol gerundense . A brief history of Girona football . es . 20 April 2024 . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231824/http://www.pedresdegirona.com/separata_fires_1948_1 . dead .
6. Web site: Análisis a fondo del rival: Girona FC SAD. 2015-09-11. SPORTARAGON.com. es. 2019-10-18. 18 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191018115857/https://www.sportaragon.com/analisis-fondo-del-rival-girona-fc-sad/. live.
7. Web site: Historia. History. Girona's official website. es. 2 July 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131204050237/http://www.gironafutbolclub.com/castella/historia.htm. 4 December 2013.
8. Web site: El Girona entona el alirón. Girona sings "We are the champions". El Mundo Deportivo. es. 16 June 2008. 2 July 2013. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204905/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD03/PUB/2008/06/16/EMD20080616040MDP.pdf. live.
9. Web site: 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). Esport 3. ca. 16 June 2008. 2 July 2013. 26 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130126110654/http://www.esport3.cat/noticia/287753/futbol/El-Girona-aconsegueix-un-ascens-historic-a-la-Segona-Divisio-en-vencer-el-Ceuta-per-la-minima-(1-0). live.
10. Web site: Cesado por sus malos resultados deportivos. Fired for poor sporting results. Huelva Ya. es. 14 January 2012. 2 July 2013. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071152/http://huelvaya.es/2012/01/14/o-todos-los-jugadores-a-la-calle-o-sobro-yo/. live.
11. Web site: El Llagostera entrena en el campo del Girona. Llagostera trains in Girona pitch. El Mundo Deportivo. es. 25 May 2011. 2 July 2013. 3 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180903045717/https://www.mundodeportivo.com/20110525/futbol/regional/el-llagostera-entrena-en-el-campo-del-girona_54160249059.html. live.
12. Web site: El Girona FC también es mío. El Girona FC también es mío. Girona's official website. es. 9 May 2013. 2 July 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924022333/http://www.gironafutbolclub.com/castella/news.asp?i1idnot=746&lang=1. 24 September 2015.
13. Web site: Girona promoted to la Liga for first time in 87 years | : The World Game . 23 November 2017 . 1 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201134250/https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2017/06/05/girona-promoted-la-liga-first-time-87-years . dead .
14. Web site: Girona FC, acquired by new investors. Girona FC. 23 August 2017. ca. 13 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213132603/https://www.gironafc.cat/noticia/el-girona-fc-adquirit-per-nous-inversors. live.
15. Web site: Real Madrid suffer shock defeat at Girona on first visit to Catalan club. TheGuardian.com. 29 October 2017. 23 November 2017. 11 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201111163102/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/29/real-madrid-shock-defeat-girona-catalan-club-football. live.
16. Web site: Real Madrid stunned as Girona record shock win . 27 October 2017 . 23 November 2017 . 30 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030061650/https://www.eurosport.com/geoblocking.shtml . live .
17. Web site: El resumen del Tenerife vs. Girona del Playoff de ascenso a Primera 2022 y LaLiga 2022-2023: vídeo, goles y estadísticas . Goal.com . es . 19 June 2022 . 2 July 2023 . 2 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230702063902/https://www.goal.com/es/noticias/el-resumen-del-tenerife-vs-girona-del-playoff-de-ascenso-a-primera-2022-y-laliga-2022-2023-video-goles-y-estadisticas/blt1a12e7af047847e9 . live .
18. Web site: Barcelona 2 Girona 4. 10 December 2023. BBC Sport. 12 December 2023. 11 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231211115642/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67678165. live.
19. Web site: Girona Scores, Stats and Highlights . 2024-01-18 . ESPN . en.
20. Web site: Girona 4–2 Barcelona . BBC Sport . 4 May 2024 . 4 May 2024 . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819040618/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cp0g29dy9qyt . live .
21. News: 18 September 2024 . Gazzaniga howler gifts PSG 1-0 win over Girona . 2 October 2024 . Reuters.
22. News: 2 October 2024 . Feyenoord edge luckless Girona in five-goal thriller . 2 October 2024 . Reuters.
23. Web site: 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 . es . 18 January 2018 . 6 February 2018 . 7 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180207004956/http://www.gironafc.cat/es/noticia/comienza-la-instalacion-del-cesped-en-los-nuevos-campos-de-entrenamiento-del-girona-en-el-pga-catalunya-resort-de-caldes-de-malavella . live .
24. Web site: 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 . es . 13 December 2017 . 6 February 2018 . 7 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180207004959/http://www.gironafc.cat/es/noticia/el-girona-fc-estrenara-en-enero-dos-nuevos-campos-de-entrenamiento-en-el-pga-catalunya-resort-de-caldes . live .
25. Web site: Girona Futbol Club. Fútbol Regional. es. 27 June 2025.
26. Web site: Jugadors. Girona FC. 4 February 2023.