4 days ago
Adrián González Becomes New Head Coach Of The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit has announced that Assistant Coach Adrián González will become the new head coach of the club, effective on July 18.
Jonathan Giráldez led the club as the head coach for 11 months and will transition to become the Head Coach of OL Lyonnes. Michele Kang is the majority owner of both the Spirit and OL Lyonnes, which recently received a rebranded name from Kang.
'I am excited and honored to become the Head Coach of the Spirit,' said González. 'Our focus remains on continuing to deliver performances that make our fans proud. I want to thank Jona for his leadership and friendship over the years, and I look forward to continuing to build upon the foundation we have established together.'
Last season, the Spirit appointed González as the Interim Head Coach and led the team with a 10-4-1 record as they waited for the arrival of Giráldez, who led the club for 11 months with González by his side.
'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,' said Giráldez. '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.'
González was the Head Coach of RCD Espanyol Femení in Spain and the performance of his team allowed them to promote to Liga F.
'Adrián has proven that he is ready for this role,' said Kang. 'He knows the team and has earned this organization's trust through his hard work and dedication. I am looking forward to watching what this team can achieve this season and beyond under his leadership.'
The Spirit started off the 2025 NWSL regular season with a strong start as they won the NWSL Challenge Cup in penalty kicks to earn their second Challenge Cup title since 2021.
Following the international break, the Spirit are currently ranked No. 4 in the NWSL standings with a 6-3-1 (wins, losses, ties) record.
Giráldez's final game with the team will be on June 22 as the Spirit face San Diego Wave FC on Sunday, June 22.
In their next three games, two of their opponents are also currently ranked in the top five spots of the NWSL standings.
The Spirit will host the North Carolina Courage on Sunday, June 8, which will mark Giráldez's final home game.
