Latest news with #KyniscaSports
CNA
3 days ago
- Business
- CNA
OL Lyonnes appoint Giraldez to replace Montemurro as manager
OL Lyonnes have appointed former Barcelona coach Jonatan Giraldez as manager to replace Joe Montemurro, the French women's league champions said. Giraldez coached Barcelona from 2021 to 2024, winning two Women's Champions Leagues, three league titles, two Copa de la Reina trophies and three Spanish Super Cups. The Spaniard, who has signed a three-year contract, joins the French club from NWSL side Washington Spirit. Both teams are part of the multi-club structure operated by the Michele Kang-owned Kynisca Sports International. "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," Giraldez said in a statement on Monday. Lyonnes, formerly known as Olympique Lyonnais Feminin, are widely regarded as the most successful women's soccer club in the world and have won a record eight Champions League titles. Under Montemurro, who was appointed coach of the Australian women's national team on Monday, Lyonnes were crowned Premiere Ligue champions for the 18th time in the 2024-25 season and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
OL Lyonnes appoint Giraldez to replace Montemurro as manager
June 3 (Reuters) - OL Lyonnes have appointed former Barcelona coach Jonatan Giraldez as manager to replace Joe Montemurro, the French women's league champions said. Giraldez coached Barcelona from 2021 to 2024, winning two Women's Champions Leagues, three league titles, two Copa de la Reina trophies and three Spanish Super Cups. The Spaniard, who has signed a three-year contract, joins the French club from NWSL side Washington Spirit. Both teams are part of the multi-club structure operated by the Michele Kang-owned Kynisca Sports International. "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," Giraldez said in a statement on Monday. Lyonnes, formerly known as Olympique Lyonnais Feminin, are widely regarded as the most successful women's soccer club in the world and have won a record eight Champions League titles. Under Montemurro, who was appointed coach of the Australian women's national team on Monday, Lyonnes were crowned Premiere Ligue champions for the 18th time in the 2024-25 season and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Forbes
4 days 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.'
Associated Press
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Lyon women's team set for a new name and higher attendances under ambitious owner Kang
As an ambitious multi-club owner Michele Kang wants to see Lyon back at the very top of European women's soccer, and important steps are being taken to achieve that. From next season the women's team will play all matches at the 59,000-capacity Groupama Stadium, sharing it with the men's side rather than occasionally playing there. The following season, the women's team will have their own state-of-the-art training campus. 'We are going to set the bar very high,' said Kang, who became majority owner of the French team in May 2023. South Korea born, US-based Kang leads Kynisca Sports International, a women-led, multi-team global sports organization. Last November, she pledged $30 million to U.S. Soccer over five years for women and girls — the largest single investment specifically for women's and girl's programs in the federation's history. The French team will take on a new name next season when the women's side becomes OL Lyonnes. This combines the city's name with the French word for a lioness (lionne). A new club logo will feature a roaring lionesses' head. 'This is not just about name change or logo change,' Kang said Monday. 'This is about redefining what's possible for women's football.' Kang expanded on her vision. '(To) create our own identity as a woman's team. Not some afterthought or second class citizen, but our own independent women's team's identity,' she told The Associated Press ahead of the presentation. Lyon has huge status in French women's soccer with 18 league titles and beyond as a record eight-time Champions League winner. Although Barcelona has taken over as Europe's No. 1 more recently, and bids for its third straight Champions League title on Sunday, Kang is confident the Catalans will be caught. Big team, big stadium Playing permanently at the Groupama Stadium is a crucial development for the women's side. When Kang assumed majority ownership, she was stunned to see such a successful women's team splitting matches between a flagship stadium and a remote pitch located at the training ground, with a tiny capacity of 1,200 — such a disparity would be inconceivable for a leading men's team. 'That was one of the most surprising things when I first came. The best team in the world, I was surprised they (Lyon) were playing the majority of games at a training center. It is unfitting,' Kang told The AP, adding. 'We want our fans to be part of our journey, part of our community and you can't achieve fan engagement by constantly switching back and forth.' Kang took over the Washington Spirit women's team in 2022 when average gates were around 3,000. 'Three seasons later, we have sell outs. We are averaging over 15,000. It takes a lot of work and branding and marketing,' Kang said. 'It will take several years to get there (with Lyon).' There is reason to believe Groupama Stadium can sell out for women's games. Last season's Champions League semfinal against archrival Paris Saint-Germain attracted 38,466 spectators. Female-specific campus Kang wants the Lyonnes players to have optimal facilities. So the club has worked with architects F3 on a female-specific and polished-looking training campus, which she is financing, to be built with limestone from Lyon and opening in July 2026. Players across Kang's three teams — she also owns the London Lionesses, recently promoted to the Women's Super League — were asked what makes for a dedicated training center. Some players may be pregnant, some have children. There are other factors, too. 'When you tell female players 'We're going to do x, y, and z' female players always want to know why. There are a lot more conversations,' Kang said. 'So from an architectural perspective they need a lot more space, whether it's an individual space or public space, conducive to conversations.' The campus aims to incorporate many elements conducive to female wellbeing. 'Apparently there is a lot more natural lighting. Those things are important,' Kang told The AP. 'This is their lives, it's a significant portion of their everyday life. The living part, the social function, all need to come together.' A level playing field 'A lot of people are excited about women's football now, they're also very conscious about equity between men's and women's teams,' said Kang, who founded medical technology company Cognosante and venture capital firm Cognosante Ventures. Forbes estimates Kang's worth at $1.2bn. As well as her $30 million donation to U.S. Soccer for women and girls, in August 2024 her Kynisca Sports organisation set up a $50m (£39.2) global investment fund to help improve the health and performance of elite female athletes. While Kang strongly advocates for independent decision making in women's soccer, she cautions against misplaced ideas. 'One of the immediate things a lot of people do is to go copy what men are doing. I really think that's the last thing we need to do,' she said. 'Our fans base is very different, at least currently. We have a lot of young families with young children. It's a different (matchday) experience. 'We need to build what's best for a women's team (rather than) blindly copying what men have done.' ___ AP soccer:
