The fairy-tale of Girona FC

Girona is undergoing a remarkable season, and their success reached new heights on the 10th of December as they stunningly defeated their Catalan neighbours Barcelona 4-2, going top of La Liga.

In the northeastern tip of Spain lays a small city named Girona, an hour from the French border. The population is just a touch over 100,000, dwarfed by their Catalan neighbours Barcelona an hour down the road. For decades, too, its football team – Girona FC – has been in the long shadow of European giants Barcelona FC.

Girona's trajectory has drastically changed. A mere 24 years ago, they were competing in the fifth tier of Spanish football. Since then, their ascent has been meteoric, and these once relatively obscure contenders now hold the second position in Spain's La Liga trailing only behind Real Madrid based on goal difference. This is noteworthy considering that Real Madrid's squad comes at a transfer cost that is 14 times higher than Girona's.

In December, they achieved a historic feat by defeating Barcelona for the first time, and it happened at the renowned Camp Nou. This victory served as a proclamation of their emergence as a genuine contender in the title race. Presently, they hold a comfortable lead over Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, having secured a thrilling 4-3 victory against the latter just last week.

The squad is a mixture of discarded players, former Premier League players, and loaned talents, brought together under the adept guidance of the sibling of Manchester City's renowned coach Pep Guardiola. The financial support for this team comes from the owners of Manchester City, the Abu Dhabi-based City Football Group. This is the extraordinary narrative of how the Blanquivermells, the team donning white and red, ascended to the dizzying heights of contending for the summit in La Liga.

The long years of pain

Reviewing the 93-year history of Girona FC reveals an absence of significant titles or European trophies. The team has never clinched the Spanish league or a national cup, and from 1959 to 2008, they didn't even participate in Spain's second division. Financial difficulties plagued the club for much of the latter part of the century, and within Girona itself, the team was largely overlooked.

“Girona citizens were mainly Barcelona, Real Madrid or even Espanyol fans,” “This was our reality and the closest we could get to the elite. The city once had a basketball team in the national top flight, but football … you had to look elsewhere.”

Girona president Delfi Geli told The Athletic recently.

The team's stadium, Estadi Montilivi, is the smallest among Spain's top-flight clubs, accommodating approximately 14,000 fans. However, if we turn the clock back to 1999, the stadium would typically welcome only 200 spectators as the team competed in the fifth tier of Spanish football, predominantly facing other Catalonian teams.

A transformative period began in the 2006-07 season and continued into the following season when Girona secured consecutive promotions, marking their return to the second division after 49 years. A change in ownership was finalized in 2010, leading to the establishment of a reserve team and enhancements to training facilities. This development alleviated the team's financial struggles, although they still operated on a limited budget.

Girona stabilized their position in the second tier and gradually moved closer to promotion. Despite falling short in the playoffs in the 2014-15 and the subsequent season, they finally achieved promotion on their third attempt in the 2016-17 season by finishing second in the Segunda Division.

For the first time in the club's 87-year history, they earned a place in La Liga.

The Acquisition that Sparked the Turnaround

Shortly after Girona earned promotion to the top flight, Pere Guardiola acquired a 44.3% stake in the club, while the City Football Group, owned by billionaire Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, also purchased an equal stake. The total cost for the 88.6% sale reportedly amounted to just 7 million euros ($A11.4m), a relatively minor expense within City's budget.

This move marked a significant development in the trend of wealthy ownership groups taking control of multiple clubs, with 124 entities globally owning two or more clubs, totaling 301 clubs involved in multi-club operations, according to a SportBusiness and CIES Sports Intelligence report as of November 2023.

One key problem is that multiple clubs with the same owners could face off in the Champions League, for example.

“There is more and more interest for this multi-club ownership and we shouldn’t just say no [to] the investments, and for multi-club ownership,” “But we have to see what kind of rules we set in that case because the rules have to be strict.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in March.

Notably, UEFA investigated Red Bull Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg in 2017 due to their close ties through shared Red Bull ownership. However, both clubs were deemed operationally independent and allowed to compete in the Champions League.

In the case of Girona and the City Football Group, as CFG does not hold the majority ownership (currently owning 47%), UEFA's multi-ownership rules do not apply. Consequently, Girona received UEFA approval last year to participate in continental competitions if they qualify.

However, Girona has undeniably reaped the benefits of its close connections to Manchester City and the broader City Football Group.

Ferran Soriano, CFG's chief executive, hails from Catalonia and previously served as the vice president of Barcelona FC. Aitor 'Txiki' Begiristain, CFG's director of football, learned Catalan during his time playing for Barcelona alongside Pep Guardiola and being coached by the legendary Johan Cruyff. Notably, Begiristain played a pivotal role in appointing Guardiola as the coach of Barcelona's senior side over Jose Mourinho during his tenure as Barcelona's director of football. This decision proved crucial as Guardiola later led Barcelona to immense success.

The strong Catalan ties among Begiristain, Guardiola, and Soriano played a pivotal role in transforming Barcelona into one of the greatest teams in club football history, and they have replicated this success at Manchester City. Guardiola has expressed the importance of Begiristain in his coaching career, emphasizing that if Begiristain worked for a different club, he would likely have joined that club.

The connections, particularly the Catalan background shared by the trio, not to mention the familial ties between Pep and Pere Guardiola, turned Girona's acquisition into more than just a strategic business decision; it became a personal endeavor.

How Manchester City Boosted Girona’s Advance

Undoubtedly, the affiliation with Manchester City has played a pivotal role in elevating Girona to unexpected Champions League contender status. Since Pere Guardiola assumed a role at the club in 2015, he swiftly initiated loan agreements for City's peripheral players or promising youngsters seeking crucial playing time for their development – a significant source of talent for Girona over the years.

In the 2015/16 season, Girona received four loaned players from Manchester City, followed by three in 16/17 and an impressive five in 17/18. This trend continued with three players in the subsequent season, four in 2020/21, and three in the last season, including one from another club under the CFG umbrella, New York City.

For Manchester City, the loan association with Girona serves as a valuable platform for nurturing young talents or acquisitions not yet ready for first-team action in the Premier League. It provides a developmental space for players who may not achieve the ultimate goal of featuring in Man City's first team. Girona thus emerges as an opportunity for CFG to send players, enhancing their transfer value in the process.

“We haven’t seen too many instances of players coming from CFG-owned clubs into Manchester City,” “But they have been able to generate returns from players that have come into their clubs and moved on externally to other clubs in the market and made a pretty significant return.” “Player trading has become a very robust revenue stream for clubs that are able to operate it well.”

Shiv Jhangiani, head of Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions at sports consultants Sportsology, told ESPN last year.

Numerous teams, notably Chelsea, have faced allegations of amassing a considerable number of players and utilizing multiple loan spells to enhance their market value before selling them for profit, essentially treating players as commodities. FIFA and UEFA have recently taken measures to address this issue, imposing restrictions on squad sizes and the number of players a club can loan out.

However, Girona has strategically benefited from the practice of securing multiple loan signings from Manchester City over the years, offering a means to bolster their squad without incurring expenses on transfer fees. One notable example is Catalan native Pablo Maffeo, who underwent three consecutive seasons on loan from City to Girona. Notably, Lionel Messi recognized Maffeo as the most challenging man-marker he had encountered. VfB Stuttgart eventually paid a then-club-record fee for Maffeo, only to loan him back to Girona for a fourth time in the subsequent season.

This involves players like Douglas Luiz, who faced work permit issues upon his £10 million signing by Man City in 2017. He was subsequently loaned to Girona for two consecutive seasons before being sold for £15 million to Aston Villa in 2019, where he has since amassed 179 appearances.

The relationship between CFG clubs, particularly the practice of loaning Manchester City players to other clubs for development, has prompted scrutiny. Questions arise about whether Girona is essentially under the control of Manchester City, being used solely for City's squad-building and profit-making, or if they enjoy unfair advantages through their CFG links.

According to individuals associated with Girona, the answer is a resounding no. Girona asserts its autonomy, maintaining independent scouting and football departments. While they maintain connections with City Football Group leaders like CEO Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain, they emphasize that they are not subject to their directives.

Girona contends that their strategy involves astutely acquiring top young talent from Manchester City on loan, and they have also demonstrated a knack for securing permanent deals with players rejected by City. A prime example is Aleix Garcia, a highly skilled Villarreal youngster signed by City in 2015. After limited appearances in two years at City, he was loaned to Girona in the 2017-18 season and the following season before making a permanent return to Girona, then in the second tier, in 2021.

Another illustration is Yangel Herrera, who joined Girona in the offseason after a loan spell from Manchester City the previous season.

Their Relegation From La Liga and their resurgent return

Girona's inaugural season in the Spanish top flight proved extraordinary, securing a notable victory against reigning Champions League winners Real Madrid in October and concluding an impressive 10th in the standings, defying expectations of a relegation battle.

However, the following season in 2018/19 saw a setback as they finished 18th and were promptly relegated to the second tier. Despite this, notable improvements were made, including the redevelopment of the academy and the re-laying of the pitch at Montilivi, although the stadium size remained modest.

The crucial missing piece was the right coach to guide them back to La Liga, and in 2021, they found him.

Michel Sanchez, dismissed by Huesca in January of that year when they were bottom of La Liga, emerged as the ideal fit. His commitment to all-out attacking principles aligned well with Girona and CFG's desire for an attacking and attractive style of play across their network. Despite being born in Madrid and being a Rayo Vallecano legend as a player, Michel promptly began learning Catalan.

In just one season, Michel successfully led Girona back to the top flight. In the subsequent year, they secured an impressive 10th-place finish in the first division, scoring 58 goals (the league's fifth-highest) while conceding 55 (also fifth). Essentially, watching a Girona game guaranteed goals.

Even more impressively, this year they elevated their performance to new heights, despite losing several star players in the offseason.

The Pere Guardiola Transfer Masterclass

They experienced the departure of key players like Oriel Romeu (formerly of Chelsea and Southampton) to Barcelona, Santiago Bueno to Wolves for €12m, Rodrigo Riquelme, and top scorer Taty Castellanos.

Facing significant losses, Pere Guardiola orchestrated a remarkable transfer window to revamp and fortify the team once again. They successfully converted a loan deal for 32-year-old goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga (from Premier League team Fulham) into a cost-free permanent arrangement.

In another astute free transfer, they secured 33-year-old center-back Daley Blind from Bayern Munich. Both Gazzaniga (formerly with Southampton and Tottenham) and Blind (formerly with Manchester United) brought their experience from the Premier League.

Adding to their savvy acquisitions, they brought back 31-year-old winger Portu for just €1.5m, a player they had sold in 2019 for €10m. Girona also capitalized on their connections with CFG clubs, making permanent moves for Man City reject Yangel Herrera and securing the loan of 19-year-old Brazilian winger Savio from Troyes in France, another CFG club. Additionally, they landed Barcelona's 22-year-old center-back Eric Garcia on loan.

Notably, they broke their transfer record by acquiring Ukrainian international striker Artem Dovbyk for a reported €7m.

In total, the team's expenditure exceeded their earnings in sales by a modest €4.35m, placing them among the ten La Liga teams with a smaller net spend. Despite this, they successfully assembled a diverse squad comprising veterans, youngsters, loanees, and players previously considered rejects. Remarkably, Girona's total spending on transfer fees for the entire squad amounted to just €33.75m, making it the sixth-cheapest squad in the league.

This stands in stark contrast to the hefty spending by Spanish giants, with Real Madrid investing €573m in their squad, Barcelona spending €371.4m, and Atletico Madrid €361.1m (according to figures from Transfermarkt). The substantial disparity in spending is also evident in their respective salary caps, covering wages, coaches, and reserve and youth teams.

Real Madrid boasts an expenditure limit of €727.5m this season, Atletico Madrid is set at €296.4m, Barcelona at €270m, while Girona operates with a considerably lower limit of just €52m – the eighth lowest in the league.

In terms of financial resources, Girona may have support from the City Football Group, but they are clearly operating with a fraction of the budgets compared to their rivals, showcasing an impressive ability to exceed expectations.

The miracle

The season kicked off with a noteworthy 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad, who were also Champions League contenders, having finished fourth in the league the previous year. Encouragingly, there were several positive indicators, including Dovbyk making an impact by scoring on his league debut.

Subsequently, the underdogs secured victories in their following six matches, propelling them to the top of the standings for the first time in their 93-year history.

During this impressive streak, Girona achieved victories with scorelines of 3-0, 4-2, and 5-3, showcasing a prolific goal-scoring performance from various players across the team.

A defining characteristic of Michel's coaching style is a dynamic and unrestrained attacking approach, emphasizing speed and quick passing. The constant movement of wingers and fullbacks adds an element of unpredictability, often perplexing opposing defenses. Wingers frequently alternate between cutting inside and hugging the sideline, prompting corresponding movements from the fullbacks – overlapping or running through the middle.

Even in their sole loss of the season against Real Madrid in September, Girona demonstrated resilience, going head-to-head with the giants without backing down despite being outplayed. In that match, they concluded with more possession and 13 shots compared to Los Blancos' 14, despite the 3-0 defeat.

The loss to Real Madrid posed a temporary setback, yet Girona had already achieved remarkable heights in the standings. They promptly bounced back by securing victories in the subsequent five games, featuring two more substantial scorelines – a 4-2 and a 5-2.

Then, in early December, came the momentous result that captured global attention – defeating Barcelona for the first time in their history.

Before the game, Girona manager Michel had expressed, "If we emerge victorious against Barcelona, this club will undoubtedly reach a new level."

They did just that, a famous 4-2 victory that humbled their neighbouring giants.

Girona were back on top of the table, two points clear of Real Madrid and seven ahead of Barcelona.

Not only did they triumph over their opponents, but Girona did so by adopting a playing style reminiscent of Guardiola's Barcelona or Manchester City – an exhilarating, attacking approach, even if it meant conceding numerous goals.

This style was perfectly encapsulated in their second historic victory of the season, a thrilling 4-3 win against Atletico Madrid in stoppage time last week. Similar to the triumph over Barcelona, it marked the first time Girona had ever defeated Atletico.

With this win, Girona boasts an impressive record of 15 victories from 19 games, along with three draws and one loss (against Real Madrid). The underdogs currently share the top spot on the table with Los Blancos, both accumulating 48 points, narrowly trailing in goal difference but notably scoring six more goals than the Madrid giants this season.

They stand seven points ahead of Barcelona and hold a ten-point lead over both Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club de Bilbao. In Michel's words, the club has undeniably entered a 'new dimension.'

“We know this isn’t normal,”

said Girona player Aleix García.

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