Jonatan Giráldez stated on Friday that his impending transfer from head coach of the NWSL’s Washington Spirit to the identical position for eight-time European champions OL Lyonnes was “one of the best for either side.”
Giráldez addressed reporters for the primary time for the reason that stunning information, which the Spirit and Lyonnes confirmed on Monday. Each golf equipment are owned by Michele Kang by way of her Kynisca multi-club enterprise.
Giráldez arrived on the Spirit midway by way of 2024 and helped the workforce end runners-up within the common season and the playoffs. He got here from FC Barcelona, a membership he had led to back-to-back European titles.
He stated on Friday that he didn’t view his time with the Spirit as incomplete.
“No, being trustworthy, I feel we must always take into account [my time] right here, because the gamers stated, as a basis to construct one thing collectively,” Giráldez stated. “I’m a part of the group. I am not a very powerful man.
“I’m not a very powerful particular person. Membership, gamers, employees, supporters — particularly, membership is over everybody. I got here right here with a plan, in all probability to remain longer. However some issues, you understand, in soccer, issues change so rapidly, and all the things collectively, we discovered that the best choice for either side was simply going to Lyon for the subsequent season.”
Adrián González will assume the place of Washington Spirit head coach as soon as Giráldez departs for Lyon, efficient July 18, in line with the Spirit. González was interim coach for the Spirit final spring because the membership awaited the arrival of Giráldez from Barcelona.
Requested about feedback he made throughout his departure from Barcelona final 12 months, Giráldez that he stated he would not go away Barcelona for a competitor — however he’s 33 years previous and there are lots of massive jobs in Europe.
“I stated, sure, I am not going to compete in opposition to Barca, however I did not say that I am not going to compete in opposition to Barca ever. I feel it is completely different,” he stated.
Giráldez stated that the OL Lyonnes alternative developed “just a few weeks in the past” and that he had discussions with a number of folks, together with Kynisca’s sporting director Markel Zubizarreta, who labored with Giráldez at Barcelona, in addition to Kang and Spirit CEO Kim Stone. The Spirit don’t at the moment have a full-time normal supervisor following the departure of Mark Krikorian earlier this spring.
The OL Lyonnes head teaching place turned accessible when Joe Montemurro knowledgeable membership management that he would depart the position to take over as the top coach of the Australian ladies’s nationwide workforce. The Australian FC formally introduced that earlier this week.
Spirit co-captain and goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury stated on Friday that, “I feel we are able to all type of perceive this can be a good resolution for everybody concerned.” Kingsbury spoke alongside co-captain Ashley Hatch and Giráldez in a joint press convention that the Spirit reduce brief to restrict the variety of questions concerning the teaching transfer, with a spokesperson telling reporters that the membership’s focus is on Sunday’s sport.
“I’ll say that plenty of us had type of already heard of it, simply the soccer group small and rumors, perhaps from brokers, different gamers had type of gotten round,” Kingsbury stated on Friday. “So, it wasn’t an enormous shock, simply because, like I stated, we heard of it. So, perhaps that was a bit simpler to take. However we’re very completely satisfied for Jona. We’re completely satisfied for Adrián.”
Giráldez stated that health coach Andrés González, and analyst Toni Gordo, will transfer to Lyonnes with him. They each got here to the Spirit with Giráldez from Barcelona.
Giráldez known as Adrián González a buddy and recommended him for his work as interim coach final 12 months. Giráldez conceded that his midseason departure from the Spirit “shouldn’t be excellent.”
“Once I plan, I discuss that plenty of occasions, particularly at house, as a result of we all know the way it works, this surroundings,” Giráldez stated. “I understand how troublesome it’s, this surroundings, when it comes to soccer — it modifications. I by no means discuss tasks and three, 4, 5 years; you need to discuss at this time, concerning the current, concerning the choice which you could develop at this time. And let’s examine what’s going to occur sooner or later.”
