Míchel Sánchez will not continue as head coach of Girona FC for the upcoming season, the club confirmed on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The departure marks the end of a five-year tenure that saw the manager guide the team from the second division to a historic UEFA Champions League qualification.
A Legacy of Promotion and European Ambition
The tenure of the Madrid-born manager, who arrived at Montilivi in the summer of 2021, concludes following a season that ended in relegation to LaLiga Hypermotion. Despite the final campaign’s difficulties, Míchel leaves as one of the most significant figures in the history of the Catalan club. According to Cadena SER, his impact was defined by his ability to consolidate a distinct, offensive style of play that resonated with both the squad and the fanbase.
Míchel oversaw 221 official matches for the club, securing 91 victories during his time in charge, as noted by SPORT. His arrival in 2021 was focused on a singular objective: securing promotion to the top flight. He achieved this in his first campaign, navigating a challenging play-off series that included a comeback against Eibar and a decisive victory over Tenerife.
The tactical identity Míchel instilled—characterized by high-pressing, fluid ball movement, and a willingness to challenge established LaLiga giants—transformed Girona from a perennial promotion candidate into a team that finished third in the 2023-24 LaLiga campaign. This finish, the highest in the club’s history, secured their inaugural spot in the Champions League, where they faced elite European opposition throughout the 2025-26 season. However, the intensity of that European schedule, coupled with a thinning squad depth, took its toll on domestic performance, leading to the relegation confirmed in the final weeks of the 2026 calendar.
Institutional Recognition of a Historic Era
Girona FC issued an official statement acknowledging the manager’s contribution to the club’s growth. The organization emphasized not only the sporting milestones, such as the third-place finish in the 2023-24 season that secured their first-ever Champions League berth, but also the rapport he maintained with the community.
“The entity wants to express its most sincere gratitude to the Madrid-born coach for the dedication, commitment, and professionalism with which he has led the first team, as well as for the human, close, and respectful treatment he has maintained at all times with the members, fans, management, and all the Club’s workers.” Girona FC, via Cadena SER
The club further highlighted that under his guidance, the team navigated some of the most brilliant chapters in its trajectory. As reported by RTVE, while the final months were marked by the struggle to maintain top-flight status, the collective memory of his time at the helm remains anchored in the club’s rise to prominence. Internally, club officials have signaled that the decision to part ways was mutual, reached after a comprehensive review of the 2025-26 campaign, which saw the team struggle to rotate effectively between continental midweek matches and weekend league fixtures.
The Departure of the Technical Staff
The exit is not limited to the head coach. The club also confirmed that Míchel’s primary assistants—Salva Fúnez, David Porcel, and Juan Carlos Balaguer—will be leaving the organization. According to MARCA, these individuals were integral to the daily operations and the tactical evolution of the team throughout the manager’s five-year stay. Their departure leaves a significant void in the coaching staff as the club prepares for a reset in the second division.
As the club looks to the future, the sporting direction remains under the control of Quique Cárcel. He faces the immediate task of identifying a new manager capable of steering the team through the upcoming season in the second division. The club’s statement concluded with a message of encouragement for the departing staff:
“Girona FC wants to wish Míchel and his staff the greatest achievements both professionally and personally in the future.” Girona FC, via Cadena SER
Cárcel, who has been the architect behind the squad building that facilitated Míchel’s success, now faces the challenge of managing a roster that may see significant turnover. Following relegation, the club must navigate new financial constraints associated with the drop to the second tier, as well as potential interest from top-flight clubs in key players who were instrumental in the Champions League run. The search for a successor is expected to prioritize coaches with experience in LaLiga Hypermotion who can stabilize the dressing room and integrate youth academy prospects into the first team for the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
Reflecting on the Final Campaign
The 2025-26 season proved to be a stark contrast to the heights of the 2023-24 campaign, where the team competed alongside giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona. While the previous year saw the club hosting Arsenal and Liverpool in the Champions League, the most recent months were defined by a series of tactical challenges and personnel adjustments that ultimately failed to prevent relegation. Despite the difficult finish, the legacy of the “Míchel era” remains a defining period for the club, characterized by a bold, recognizable identity that elevated the expectations of the Girona supporters.
The final weeks of the season were hampered by a series of injuries to key personnel, including long-term absences in the defensive line which forced Míchel to rely on academy call-ups to fill the void. Despite these setbacks, the club’s leadership maintained that the tactical principles remained sound, even if the execution fell short of the survival threshold required to remain in the top flight. The focus for the club now shifts to the administrative transition, with the board of directors and the City Football Group ownership group expected to finalize the new technical structure before the start of the pre-season activities in July.
