It's official now. Jonatan Giráldez wanted to live a new experience away from Barcelona, the team with which he has won everything. The chosen one is The Washington Spirit. The American team has announced that Giráldez will join as the new coach when his contract with the Barcelona entity expires at the end of this season.
“We conducted an extensive, data-driven global search and found Jona to be the best choice to lead our players. “His commitment to excellence and high performance is second to none and the results speak for themselves, including consecutive La Liga and Super Cup titles and multiple coaching honors,” said owner Michele Kang who acquired the club in 2022 for a record amount in American soccer: 35 million dollars. “We are grateful for his decision to join us. “He will help take the spirit to the next level for both players and fans,” she added.
The Barça coach already explained in a press conference that his future would not be in Europe. "It is important not to compete against Barça," he stated, after confirming his departure from the club where he has won everything. He also explained that he is not leaving for money but because he is looking to live new experiences.
Giráldez was presented as the new Barcelona coach on July 2, 2021 to replace Lluís Cortés, of whom he was assistant for two and a half seasons. Leading the Barcelona bench, the Vigo coach achieved great success: Two Leagues, two Queen's Cups and one Champions League, the second in the club's history. He has also achieved several records, such as 50 consecutive victories, a milestone achieved last March. Now, he is heading to one of the leading leagues in women's soccer to continue growing.
The Washington team is making a strong commitment to Giráldez to the point that it will name an interim coach until he arrives, starting in July, when his commitment to Barça will have ended. At Spirit, the Galician coach will find a squad with numerous American internationals, including Trinity Rodman, daughter of the famous Dennis Rodman and who, at 21 years old, is already one of the most established players in American soccer.
