Official: Míchel Sánchez Parts Ways With Girona FC After Five-Year Transformation

Girona FC and Míchel Sánchez have officially parted ways, bringing an end to one of the most successful and transformative periods in the club’s history.

The Madrid-born coach departs after five seasons in charge, having guided Girona from the Segunda División to the UEFA Champions League and delivered the greatest campaign the club has ever experienced. His exit follows Girona’s relegation from La Liga on the final day of the 2025-26 season.

In a statement announcing his departure, Girona thanked Míchel for his dedication, professionalism and leadership, while also confirming that members of his coaching staff — Salva Fúnez, David Porcel and Juan Carlos Balaguer — will also leave the club.

The End Of A Remarkable Cycle

Míchel arrived at Montilivi in the summer of 2021 with the task of returning Girona to Spain’s top flight.

What followed exceeded even the most optimistic expectations.

Over five seasons, he oversaw 221 official matches, becoming one of the most influential figures in the club’s modern history. Under his guidance, Girona developed a distinctive attacking identity and established themselves as one of Spanish football’s most admired teams.

Unfortunately, the story ended in heartbreak.

Girona’s relegation was confirmed after a 1-1 draw with Elche on the final day of the season, ending a difficult campaign and bringing Míchel’s tenure to a close.

From Promotion To The Champions League

Few managers have transformed a club as dramatically as Míchel did at Girona.

His first season ended with promotion through the play-offs, restoring Girona’s place in La Liga. The years that followed saw the club steadily grow before reaching extraordinary heights during the 2023-24 campaign.

Míchel’s Girona Journey

The standout moment came during the 2023-24 season, when Girona stunned Spanish football by challenging for the title and ultimately finishing third behind only Real Madrid and Barcelona.

For a club that had never previously played in the Champions League, it was a historic achievement.

The Season That Made History

The 2023-24 campaign will forever define Míchel’s legacy.

Girona spent months among the title contenders, playing fearless attacking football that captured attention across Europe. They entered the second half of the season as genuine challengers before eventually settling for a remarkable third-place finish.

That achievement secured the club’s first-ever Champions League qualification and elevated Girona onto the European stage.

For many supporters, it remains the greatest season in the club’s history.

Why The Project Unravelled

The decline that followed was as dramatic as the rise.

Key departures, recruitment issues and the demands of balancing domestic football with European competition gradually weakened the squad. Girona survived the 2024-25 season by a narrow margin before suffering relegation a year later.

The final campaign became a struggle from start to finish.

Despite Míchel’s efforts, Girona never managed to escape the downward spiral, and relegation ultimately proved unavoidable.

The disappointment of the ending is undeniable, but it should not overshadow the scale of what was achieved during the previous four years.

Míchel’s Record At Girona

Overall Statistics

He leaves as the second-most experienced coach in Girona’s history and the architect of the club’s most successful era.

More Than Just Results

Míchel’s impact extended beyond league positions and statistics.

He gave Girona a clear footballing identity, transformed perceptions of what the club could achieve and helped establish Montilivi as one of the most respected projects in Spanish football.

For a period, Girona were not merely surviving in La Liga — they were competing with the country’s biggest clubs.

That cultural and sporting transformation may ultimately prove to be his greatest contribution.

What Comes Next For Girona

Girona now face a major rebuilding job in the Segunda División.

The club must appoint a new manager, reshape the squad and attempt to bounce back at the first opportunity. Sporting director Quique Cárcel is expected to remain in place and oversee the reconstruction.

The challenge will be significant, particularly with several key players likely to attract interest from top-flight clubs this summer.

A Legacy That Relegation Cannot Erase

Relegation will always be a painful final chapter, but it should not define Míchel’s time at Girona.

In five years, he guided the club from the second tier to the Champions League, delivered a historic third-place finish and created memories that supporters will never forget.

Very few coaches leave behind a legacy capable of transforming a club’s entire identity.

Míchel did exactly that.

Míchel Sánchez leaves Girona after overseeing the most successful period in the club’s history.

His tenure brought promotion, stability in La Liga, a remarkable title challenge and the club’s first appearance in the Champions League. Although the story ended with relegation, his achievements remain unmatched in Girona’s modern era.

The results of the final season may have brought the cycle to an end, but they cannot diminish everything that came before.

For Girona supporters, Míchel will always be remembered as the coach who turned an ambitious club into one of football’s great underdog stories.

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