Based in Girona, Catalonia, Spain, Girona Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a professional football team in Spain. The team was established on July 23, 1930, and it now competes in La Liga. In the 2022 Segunda División play-offs, they were promoted to La Liga.
Girona uses the 14,624-seat Estadi Montilivi for their home games. The City Football Group Limited owns it. The club fields competitive young and amateur women’s teams.
Origin of Girona FC
In Girona, football gained special attention at the start of the 20th century. Established in 1902 as FC Gerundense, Strong Esport was the city’s first significant club.
Two new clubs, CE Gironí and UD Girona, were founded in Girona in the 1920s. Following the demise of UD Girona, the city opted to form a new football team.
Girona Futbol Club was established on July 23, 1930, in the café Norat in La Rambla in Girona, following the dissolution of Unió Esportiva Girona due to financial difficulties.
History and Top Players
Girona FC was given permission by the city council on August 1, 1930, to use the city’s insignia on its badges. The club’s first president, Albert de Quintana de León, led a group of enthusiasts in their efforts, which ultimately resulted to success.
The team then participated in the Catalan Championships in the second tier. Their starting lineup versus Colònia Artigas was Florenza, Teixidor, Farró, Flavià, Comas, Corradi, Ferrer, Escuder, Clara, Torrellas, and Taradellas in its first official game.
Girona’s first season in Segunda División was 1935–1936. The team placed first in its group and went on to play in the playoffs, where it faced teams like Real Zaragoza, Arenas Club, Real Murcia, and Xerez.
However, the team finished second from bottom and was therefore eliminated from the La Liga promotion zone.
Following the Spanish Civil War, the team alternated between Tercera División and the second tier; it was demoted to the latter in 1980. In 1977, Segunda División B was established as the new division three, and the team competed in it for three years.
After almost 50 years in the Vista Alegre stadium, home games were moved to the permanent Estadi Montilivi in 1970. Construction on the stadium started in 1968.
On July 22, 2010, a consortium of local entrepreneurs, led by Ramon Vilaró, Joaquim Boadas, and Josep Slim, acquired 72% of Girona FC’s shares from former club president Josep Gusó and Josep Rofes.
This transaction marked a significant change in ownership for the club. Ramon Vilaró assumed the role of president, while Agné, who had previously managed Recreativo, returned as the team’s manager for the upcoming second division campaign. However, Agné’s tenure was short-lived as he was dismissed on January 14, 2012, following a 0–3 defeat against Recreativo.
In 2011, Girona FC established a reserve team, further solidifying its infrastructure. Additionally, in a move to strengthen the club’s financial position, the board of directors approved an increase in the club’s capital by €300,000 in May 2013.
This capital increase was aimed at balancing the club’s financial structure and was made available through the sale of €10 shares to stakeholders. As of 2024, Girona FC boasts a total market value of €125.3 million, reflecting its continued growth and stability in the footballing world.
Girona FC 2023-24 Squad
| Goalkeepers | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juan Carlos | Miguel Gutiérrez | Borja García | Cristhian Stuani (captain) |
| Paulo Gazzaniga | Arnau Martínez | Aleix García | Viktor Tsyhankov |
| Toni Fuidias | David López | Juanpe | Artem Dovbyk |
| Valery Fernández | Pablo Torre (on loan from Barcelona) | Sávio (on loan from Troyes) | |
| Daley Blind | Toni Villa | Portu | |
| Yan Couto (on loan from Manchester City) | Yangel Herrera | ||
| Jhon Solís | |||
| Iván Martín | |||
Reserve Team Squad
| Goalkeepers | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antal Yaakobishvili (DF, Hungary) | Silvi Clua (MF, Spain) | Alex Almansa (FW, Spain) | |
| Enric García (MF, Spain) | Iker Almena (FW, Spain) | ||
| Ricard Artero (MF, Spain) | Jastin García (FW, Portugal) | ||
| Juan Arango (FW, Venezuela) |
Current Status
Girona FC has had a varied history in Spanish football leagues, spanning multiple divisions over the years:
- 4 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
In the current season, Girona FC started strongly and emerged as a potential title contender. However, as the season progressed, their momentum slowed down. At present, Real Madrid leads the table with 78 points, while Girona sits in 3rd place with 65 points, trailing behind Barcelona.
Records and Achievements
Girona FC have established a notable presence in Spanish football, particularly in lower divisions. Their success in the Segunda División B came to fruition in the 2007–08 season when they claimed the championship title.
Additionally, the club boasts an impressive record in the Tercera División, having secured victory on five occasions: in 1933–34, 1947–48, 1954–55, 1988–89, and 2005–06. Beyond national competitions, Girona FC has also made its mark regionally, clinching the Supercopa de Catalunya in 2019.
These achievements underscore the club’s resilience and dedication to excellence, contributing to its enduring legacy within Spanish football.
Also Read: Real Madrid: Players, History, Records, Achievements, and Future Goals