Latest news with #JonatanGiráldez
New York Times
18 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
FAQs about the Spirit's coaching shuffle. Plus: USWNT meeting Hayes' deadline
Full Time Newsletter ⚽| This is The Athletic's weekly women's soccer newsletter. Sign up here to receive Full Time directly in your inbox. Meg is off today enjoying a rare sunny day in Vermont, so it's me, Emily Olsen, here with Tamerra Griffin — welcome to Full Time! Another coaching change in Washington Stop me if you've heard this one before: The Washington Spirit have changed coaches. Two-time UEFA Champions League-winning coach Jonatan Giráldez is headed to OL Lyonnes, another club under owner Michele Kang's umbrella. Let's start with the news. I've covered the Spirit in some capacity since 2015. If I had a nickel for every coaching change I've seen in that decade, I'd have nine. NINE! Sure, it's not enough to afford the new Inciardi art prints the team sells on game day, but that's still a lot of change for one team. Those changes include coaches dismissed for misconduct, interims, a single-game stint by Angela Salem in the ill-fated 2022 season and now the give-and-go situation happening with Giráldez and González. Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, one of the faces of NWSL, has yet to have a single coach for more than one season at her club. When I asked her at the end of last year how the team was able to get to two NWSL championships (winning one), she took an approach à la Bane's 'I was born in it' comment in 'The Dark Knight Rises': 'It's almost scarier when it's smooth sailing,' she said. Advertisement What to expect from González González is no stranger to Washington. In fact, he might be one of the most consistent head coaches in the last few years, even if some of that time was spent as both an interim and assistant coach. González led Washington through preseason last year and to a 10-1-4 record through the first fifteen games. He helped the team to some of its best expected goal stats since 2021. (He did so with a healthy roster, something the Spirit haven't had recently.) During the Olympic break last year, Giráldez took over. He built on González's strong start to lead the Spirit to the 2024 NWSL Championship, which they lost 1-0 to the Orlando Pride. Now, a year later, the reverse will happen. The Spirit have dealt with a spate of injuries this season, headlined by Rodman, but are currently fourth in the NWSL table with a record of 6-1-3, five points behind No. 1 Kansas City Current. González will have the international break, starting June 23, to reset with the team. However, the organization saw his familiarity with the players as a positive. Kang said González 'knows the team and has earned this organization's trust.' Is this a bad thing? Multi-club models have long been seen as corporate cash grabs at best and sportswashing at worst (on the men's side). Kang has been well aware of that perception since she first looked to create Kynisca Sports International, a multi-team global women's soccer organization, by purchasing OL Lyonnes in 2023. She later purchased the only independently owned team in England's second tier of women's soccer, and her investment helped the team get promoted to the WSL. The businesswoman told Forbes last year that the multi-club model is a 'necessity' in the women's game, especially when it comes to resource sharing. However, Kang has made it clear that players don't fall into that category. Advertisement Despite the awkward optics here, González has a strong track record as Washington's coach, so Kang seems to be keeping up her promise not to sacrifice the good of one team for the other. And she isn't the only one expanding, as Kansas City Current owners Angie and Chris Long showed last week with their investment in Danish club HB Koge. Whether women's soccer is paving a new way forward or adopting the bad habits from the men's side will take time to become clear. Hayes' team 'on track' for June deadline Head coach Emma Hayes said last week that the USWNT is still 'on track' to meet her June deadline for establishing a core group of players that will lead the U.S. in World Cup qualifying next year. She's even found the space to start developing the under-23 group the way she hoped she could at the start of the year (more on that in a sec). Despite not having Triple Espresso (Rodman, Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson), this team isn't totally without its caffeine. Sam Coffey scored her second U.S. goal with a wonder strike in the team's 3-0 win over China on Saturday. Pick out that corner, Sam 🔥#USWNT x @VW — U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) May 31, 2025 Coffey — who leads with devotion, as she recently told Tamerra — is part of a midfield that's finally jelling, alongside Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes. The team also has its 'security blanket' back with the return of Naomi Girma. A fun aside: Coffey's game-worn jersey from the match, along with several other U.S. players' jerseys, were up for auction during the game (and there's still time to bid). Coffey's jersey is currently a great value pick for a goal scorer. Keep an eye out for the youths Hayes has been as adamant about developing this younger national team as she has been about narrowing down her group for 2027 World Cup qualifying. She sees the two projects as interdependent. That's why players like Jaedyn Shaw (20 years old), Korbin Albert (21) and Mia Fishel (24), who have senior caps (and in Shaw and Albert's case, Olympic gold medals), were named to this camp. This is your reminder to start paying attention to the U-23s, made up almost entirely of professional players, during this camp. They played in two very fun (and refreshingly well-attended!) matches against Germany near Stuttgart on Friday and again today. The teams split results, each side claiming a dramatic 2-1 victory sealed in the final minutes. Ironically, in the May 30 match, it was Evelyn Shores — the only collegiate player on the roster — who netted the go-ahead in the dying seconds of stoppage time to give the U.S. the win. Today, in the second fixture, Albert converted a penalty drawn by the Portland Thorns' Caiya Hanks to get the U.S. on the board. But this time, German midfielder Tuana Mahmoud was the national hero with a soaring strike that U.S. and Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz managed to only get a few fingers on. Props to the German Football Federation for streaming both matches on YouTube. — Tamerra 📺 USWNT vs. Jamaica Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, Max and Peacock The U.S. closes this window with a friendly against Jamaica at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Mo. The game was originally scheduled to be a second against China but had to be changed due to a scheduling conflict for the Chinese. 📺 Spain vs. England Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET streaming on Fubo UEFA Nations League continues tomorrow with the final round of matches before this summer's European Championship in Switzerland. And after an emphatic 6-0 win over Portugal to silence the Mary Earps chatter from the public, England take on Spain for a final test before Sarina Wiegman unveils the squad she's taking to the Euros. Never too late: USWNT midfielder Lo'eau LaBonta became the oldest player to debut for the U.S. women when the 32-year-old took the field in place of the 17-year-old Yohannes on Saturday. Meg Linehan caught up with the KC captain last week to discuss her first call-up. Teaming up: The Mexican Football Federation will join the U.S. as co-host for the 2031 Women's World Cup, a federation spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic on Friday. The two nations originally went in on a 2027 bid before backing out. Brazil will host that year's tournament. Tears, anger, end of hope: Blackburn Rovers' senior Women's team have been demoted from the Women's Super League 2 after the club decided against meeting the required licensing criteria to retain their tier-two status, plunging the women's set-up into an uncertain future. Megan Feringa reported on the anger, sadness and loss of trust from those impacted by the decision. 📫 Love Full Time? These stories can also be found on Yahoo's women's sports hub, in partnership with The Athletic. Also, check out our other newsletters.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
🚨 OL Lyonnes confirm the appointment of Jonatan Giráldez
French giants OL Lyonnes have today confirmed the appointment of Jonatan Giráldez as the new first-team manager at Groupama Stadium. The 33-year-old managerial prodigy replaces the outgoing Joe Montemurro, who recently announced his departure while since taking up the position of head coach of Australia's women's side. Giráldez has achieved commendable success despite his age, first as an assistant with Barcelona Femení from 2019-2021 before taking up the position of manager for three seasons, guiding the club to ten pieces of silverware along the way. Advertisement The Galician tactician then patrolled the touchline for NWSL side Washington Spirit, but will now return to Europe at the helm of one of the most prestigious clubs in the women's game. 📸 Tim Nwachukwu - 2024 Getty Images
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Jonatan Giráldez ‘Transitions' Between Clubs Owned By Michele Kang
The day after Joe Montemurro stepped down as coach of OL Lyonnes, his replacement was confirmed as Jonatan Giráldez, a man working for another club owned by Michele Kang. Giráldez, the youngest-ever coach to win the UEFA Women's Champions League in his time at FC Barcelona, moved to the United States last summer to coach Washington Spirit, the NWSL club owned by United States businesswoman Kang. She has also acquired the eight-time European champions, Olympique Lyonnais, who she recently separated from the men's team and rebranded as OL Lyonnes. With her head coach Montemurro leaving to coach the national team of his native Australia, Kang did not look far for his replacement. In 2024, Kang established London-based Kynisca Sports International as the umbrella group for her multi-club ownership of The Spirit, OL Lyonnes and London City Lionesses which she intends to expand into South America. Kynisca promised to pool resources between their teams and now it seems this extends to their head coach. Last summer, I asked Kang whether she would eventually move players between her teams. She was adamant she would not "This is not to say, we own multi-teams, everyone else exists to make one team successful. . . We are not going to sacrifice one team to make another team successful. Absolutely not. Our goal is to make every team the champion in each of their leagues.' Giráldez has signed a contract with OL Lyonnes until 30 June 2028. Until Montemurro, every coach of the club this century has got them to a Champions League final, since 2010 every coach except Montemurro had won the Champions League title. The club said 'this appointment confirms OL Lyonnes' strategic commitment to strengthening its international reach and increasing its competitiveness.' Kang added 'Jonatan's commitment to excellence and performance is unmatched. His leadership, tactical acumen, and dedication to player development will propel our club to the next level, both domestically and internationally." 'We are grateful for his decision to remain part of the Kynisca family. He will play a crucial role in elevating OL Lyonnes to new heights for the players and fans.' Washington Spirit announced simultaneously this afternoon that Giráldez will be replaced on July 18 by his assistant coach Adrián González as Giráldez 'will transition over to become the Head Coach of OL Lyonnes' in time for the start of the new French league season. Kang intimated that the expected arrival of Giráldez's second child next month may have played a part in his decision to return to Europe. Giráldez said 'it has been a privilege to lead this incredible group of players, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the Spirit family." 'I am honored and excited to join OL Lyonnes,' said Giráldez. 'The club's history, ambition, and talented squad represent a fantastic opportunity, and I look forward to building on the club's successes as it enters a new chapter.' "I am especially proud to see Adrián step into this role. He's not only a highly skilled coach but also someone who truly embodies the Spirit's vision and values. I have full confidence he will thrive and continue driving the team forward.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Spirit coach Jonatan Giráldez reportedly taking OL Lyonnes job, moving between Michele Kang-owned teams
Less than a year after taking over as head coach of the Washington Spirit, Jonatan Giráldez is already moving on. Giráldez will be leaving the Spirit to join OL Lyonnes as the French club's new head coach, per multiple reports, moving between two teams owned by billionaire investor Michele Kang. The 33-year-old coach will reportedly depart Washington at the end of June, per The Athletic — just one year after arriving. Giráldez will leave the Spirit without having completed a full NWSL season. Advertisement Assitant coach Adrián González will take over as head coach, per The Athletic. At the time of the first report about Giráldez's move, which ESPN reported last week, Lyon did not have a head coach vacancy. However, that changed this weekend: The club announced Sunday that Joe Montemurro will be leaving the club after a year as head coach. Montemurro has been linked to a coaching position with the Australian women's national team, who has been without a permanent head coach since last summer. But the move, passing Giráldez between two teams owned by Kang, sets a worrying precedent. Kang has said in the past that she doesn't plan to move players between teams, telling ESPN that she is "not going to rob the best players from one team and give them to another team." But that resolution seemingly doesn't extend to the coaching staff. The Spirit is one of the strongest teams in the unpredictable NWSL; the team currently sits in fourth with a 6-1-3 record, while dealing with a slew of injuries, including to star forward Trinity Rodman. Meanwhile, OL Lyonnes is one of the most successful women's soccer teams in the world, and has dominated the French Première Ligue for nearly two decades. Advertisement In addition to Washington and Lyon, Kang also owns the London City Lionesses, which was recently promoted to the first-tier Women's Super League after winning England's second-tier league. Kang also told ESPN that plans to add a fourth club to her portfolio in the near future. Prior to joining the Spirit, Giráldez was head coach of Barcelona Femení, leading the club to three Liga F titles and two UEFA titles in three years at the helm. He joined Washington five months after he was announced as the club's new head coach, joining the team last June after finishing the season with Barcelona. Advertisement During that five-month period, González served as interim head coach, guiding the Spirit to a 10-4-1 record at the start of the season. After leading the team through the first half of the season without Giráldez, González will now do the same with the latter half. Washington's final game before the July international break takes place on June 22; by the time the NWSL starts up again in August, the Spirit will have to reset with González at the helm.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Spirit coach Jonatan Giráldez set to take OL Lyonnes job, Adrián González to lead Washington
Washington Spirit head coach Jonatan Giráldez is set to become the next head coach of OL Lyonnes in France and will join the club at the end of June, sources confirmed to . Assistant coach Adrián González, who previously led the team in an interim capacity before Giráldez arrived, will take over as head coach in Washington. OL Lyonnes is part of businesswoman Michele Kang's growing global portfolio of women's soccer clubs, under the umbrella of her company, Kynisca. The Spirit and England's recently promoted London City Lionesses round out the group, though Kang also has her eyes on expanding the multi-club organization. Advertisement OL Lyonnes (formerly Olympique Lyonnais Féminin) is the most successful women's club in Europe, having won the UEFA Women's Champions League a record eight times. By comparison, Giráldez's former club, Barcelona, has claimed the title just three times, including twice under his leadership. Before joining the Spirit, Giráldez said he 'would not compete against Barça,' when speaking of his next move to Mundo Deportivo in December 2023. He was announced as the Spirit's head coach on Jan. 9, 2024. Giráldez will replace current Lyonnes manager Joe Montemurro, who will leave the club to coach the Australia women's national team in the coming weeks, according to sources familiar with the deal. Moving from the Spirit to Lyonness less than two years into his time in Washington was not part of a larger plan for Giráldez; rather, the opportunity came about when it became clear Montemurro would leave, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. The move is seen internally as the best decision for both clubs, even if the timing is not ideal. Advertisement The Spirit said it 'does not comment on rumors or speculation' when asked about the coaching changes. According to sources, this also does not change what Kang has said publicly about the movement of players between clubs under her umbrella. Speaking to Forbes last year, Kang said multi-club ownership in women's soccer is a 'necessity.' While she told Forbes she sees the shared resources as a benefit, she said, 'We are not going to sacrifice one team to make another team successful. Absolutely not. Our goal is to make every team the champion in each of their leagues.' One of the Spirit's biggest stars, Trinity Rodman, who is currently out with an 'excused absence' as she recovers from a longstanding back injury, is out of contract at the end of the season. Under the multi-club organization, players won't get moved to other teams the way Giráldez has, as the organization views coach movement differently. In March, Kang said, 'It will be very, very important not only for the Spirit, but in my opinion, for NWSL' to keep U.S. Olympic gold medalist Rodman playing games stateside for now. Advertisement Kang continues to value the Spirit, the first club she invested in, according to a source, and does not see this as relegating Washington to No. 2 behind Lyonnes. Giráldez didn't join Washington in person until six months after his initial announcement on June 20, 2024, just weeks after winning back-to-back Champions League titles with Barcelona. His last win in Europe was a Champions League final victory over OL Lyonnes. In the interim, González led Washington through preseason and to a 10-4-1 record through the first fifteen games of 2024. During the Olympic break that year, Giráldez took over. He built on González's strong start to lead the Spirit to the NWSL championship last year, which they lost 1-0 to the Orlando Pride. Now, a year later, the reverse will happen. Advertisement González will have the international break, starting June 23, to reset with the team. However, players are already familiar with the coach, something that was seen as a positive by the organization. Similar to last year, the Spirit has dealt with a spate of injuries this season, headlined by Rodman, but is currently fourth in the NWSL table with a record of 6-3-1, five points behind No. 1 Kansas City Current. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Washington Spirit, Soccer, NWSL, UK Women's Football 2025 The Athletic Media Company
