Girona

Nargiz Mammadzada

Girona has stolen the show in football’s grand theatre, pulling off the ultimate heist in the 2023/24 season.

If football were a poker game, Girona just went all-in with a pair of twos and cleaned the table. Forget what you thought you knew about the big shots; Girona is the headline act this season. They have kicked clichés in the shins, making the beautiful game even more unpredictable.

So, grab your popcorn, folks, because the biggest plot twist of the season is not happening in Hollywood – it is unfolding on Girona’s turf, and you better believe it is worth every minute.

The History of Girona FC

  • Total market value: €161.10m
  • Squad size: 25
  • Average age: 27.2
  • Foreign players: 11 
  • National team players: 7
  • Stadium: Montilivi 
  • Current transfer record: €4.35m

Founded on 23 July 1930, Girona FC has its roots deep in the football trenches. Starting from the lower leagues, this club hustled up the ranks. The breakthrough came in the 2017/18 season when Girona stepped into the La Liga arena for the first time, ready to take on the big shots.

“Imagine a team from a smaller city challenging the Spanish football giants!”

But let’s not gloss over the grind. Girona’s climb was not a cakewalk. It was a hard-earned ticket to the top flight. Imagine a team from a smaller city challenging the Spanish football giants – that was Girona, making a statement.

Fast forward to the 2023/24 season, and Girona FC is no longer an underdog. They are a force to be reckoned with. The current campaign is more than matches; it is a testament to a club’s evolution.

Montilivi Stadium

Nestled in the heart of Girona, Montilivi Stadium stands as the vibrant battleground for football enthusiasts. With a rich history dating back to its inception in 1970, the stadium has evolved into a modern arena, encapsulating the city’s football fervour. Its capacity of 14,624 seats provides an electric atmosphere, amplified by recent upgrades.

The new 710-seater stand in the North Stand enhances capacity and spectator experience. The innovative Espai 1930, a 375-square-meter multifunctional space, further elevates matchdays, accommodating 200 fans from VIP Hospitality areas. With a renewed VIP Balcony, the Premium capacity reaches 400 seats, making Montilivi a cutting-edge football destination.

The Beginning of the Fairy Tale

“Finished the league in 10th place with 49 points.”

Girona was a club promoted to La Liga just two seasons ago. Competing in the Spanish 2nd League in the 2021-2022 season, Girona finished the league in 6th place with 68 points. The red-whites, who lost 1-0 to Eibar in the first play-off semi-final match, defeated their opponent 2-0 at the end of extra time in the rematch and advanced to the play-off final.

Facing Tenerife in the final, Girona qualified for promotion to La Liga by beating its opponent 3-1 in the second match after drawing 0-0 in the first match. Míchel’s team, which had an average performance in La Liga last season, finished the league in 10th place with 49 points.

The 2023/24 Season

Girona continues to shock everyone by leaving behind clubs such as Barcelona and Atletico Madrid with 35 points in La Liga after 14 matches. After the only game they lost was against Real Madrid, they are currently in second place with the same points as Real Madrid.

22 Million Euros for Transfer

Girona, which transferred five players on a transfer fee before the season, added two players for free and three on loan.

  • Artem Dovbyk from Dnipro, Jhon Solis from Atletico Nacional, Yangel Herrera from Manchester City, Ivan Martin from Villarreal and Portu from Getafe were the players acquired by transfer fee.
  • Daley Blind, whose contract with Bayern Munich expired and Paulo Gazzaniga, who left Fulham, are free transfers.
  • Eric Garcia and Pablo Torre from Barcelona, and Savio from Troyes joined the squad on loan.

Artem Dovbyk

Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk, transferred from Dnipro at the beginning of the season, draws attention as Girona’s top scorer this season. The 26-year-old football player, who played in 13 of 14 matches in the league with the red-white jersey, scored seven goals and four assists in these matches. Dovbyk also competed with one goal and two assists in the match, where Girona beat Osasuna 4-2 in the 12th week.

Girona’s Impossible Dream?

“I have never seen a bag of money score a goal.”

While it seems impossible for Girona, which is living a dream, to continue this fight until the end of the season, there are also examples in England, such as the championship achieved by Leicester City. Girona’s total team value is shown as 160 million Euros. Real Madrid’s team value is around 1.03 billion Euros, Barcelona’s is around 862 million Euros, and Atletico Madrid’s is around 472 million Euros.

While we have this information in hand, we also keep in mind the following words of the Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, one of the best players and best coaches in the history of world football: “Why could not you beat a richer club? I have never seen a bag of money score a goal.” What will the future bring for Girona? We will watch and see…

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Featured image courtesy of  via Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.

Nargiz Mammadzada is the head of our Sports Section. She is from Baku, Azerbaijan, but currently lives in Gdansk, Poland. She also writes for various platforms in the United States, Australia, Canada and United Kingdom.

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