History of Girona FC in Timeline

Girona FC is a Spanish professional football club, established on July 23, 1930, and based in Girona, Catalonia. They currently compete in La Liga, the top tier of Spanish football, after securing promotion through the 2022 Segunda División play-offs. The club represents the city of Girona in national competitions.

1902: Founding of Strong Esport

In 1902, Strong Esport, originally named FC Gerundense, was founded as the first major football club in Girona. Some of its first players included Narciso Callicó and Salvador Hormeu. The club was founded in 1902.

1921: Foundation of CE Gironí and Unió Deportiva Girona

In 1921, CE Gironí was founded, and Unió Deportiva Girona was founded on February 13, created through the union of Sports Center Gironenc and other sports enthusiasts. The club was founded in 1921.

1929: Dissolution of UD Girona

In 1929, UD Girona disappeared due to financial problems, specifically a debt of around 200,000 pesetas, leading to the decision to create a new football team in the city.

July 1930: Girona FC Founded

On July 23, 1930, Girona Futbol Club was founded in the café Norat in La Rambla of Girona, following the dissolution of Unió Esportiva Girona due to economic reasons. The team was founded on July 23, 1930.

August 1930: Authorization to Use City Emblem

On August 1, 1930, the city council authorized Girona Futbol Club to use the city's emblem on its badges, thanks to the efforts led by the club's first president, Albert de Quintana de León.

1935: First Season in Segunda División

In the 1935–36 season, Girona played its first season in Segunda División. The club finished in top position in its group and appeared in the playoff stage, but did not achieve La Liga promotion.

1959: Demotion to Tercera División

In 1959, Girona fell into Tercera División, marking a period of fluctuation between the second level and Tercera División after the Spanish Civil War.

1968: Construction of Estadi Montilivi Begins

In 1968, the construction of the Estadi Montilivi began, marking a significant development in the club's infrastructure.

1970: Permanent Home Matches at Estadi Montilivi

From 1970 onwards, home matches were held permanently at the Estadi Montilivi, after nearly five decades at the Vista Alegre stadium.

1977: Segunda División B Creation

In 1977, Segunda División B was created as the new division three.

1980: Further Demotion

In 1980, Girona was further demoted, entering a period where Segunda División B had been created as the new division three in 1977.

1982: Start of Three Seasons in Regional Championships

In the 1982–83 season, Girona began a period of spending three seasons in the regional championships, reflecting a challenging phase in the club's history.

1997: Continued Time in Regional Championships

From 1997–99, Girona continued spending time in the regional championships, further defining a difficult period for the club.

June 2008: Promotion to the Second Tier

On June 16, 2008, Girona, led by Raül Agné, defeated Ceuta 1–0 in the play-offs, achieving a second consecutive promotion and returning to the second tier after a 49-year absence.

July 2010: Acquisition by Local Businessmen

On July 22, 2010, a group of local businessmen led by Ramon Vilaró, Joaquim Boadas, and Josep Slim purchased 72% of Girona's shares, becoming the new owners. Vilaró was elected the new president.

2011: Creation of Reserve Team

In 2011, Girona created a reserve team, having previously grown a natural grass pitch in Palau.

January 2012: Sacking of Raül Agné

On January 14, 2012, Raül Agné was sacked as manager of Girona following a 0–3 loss at Recreativo.

May 2013: Approval of Capital Increase

On May 9, 2013, Girona's board of directors approved an increase of the club's capital by €300,000, to be distributed in €10 shares, under the slogan "El Girona FC també és meu" ("Girona FC is mine too"), aiming to balance its estate.

2014: Promotion Denied by Last-Minute Goal

In the 2014–15 season, Girona needed to beat Lugo to earn promotion to La Liga, but were denied by a last-minute goal. Girona had to settle for a play-off place.

2016: Play-off Final Defeat

In the 2016–17 season, Girona reached the play-off final but were defeated by Osasuna.

August 2017: City Football Group Purchase

On August 23, 2017, City Football Group (CFG) purchased 44.3% ownership in Girona, with another 44.3% held by Girona Football Group, led by Pere Guardiola.

October 2017: Victory Against Real Madrid

On October 29, 2017, Girona recorded a 2–1 victory against reigning Champions League winners Real Madrid.

December 2017: Construction of New Training Facilities

In December 2017, construction began on Girona's new training facilities, located at the PGA Catalunya Golf Course complex. The new complex will serve as the exclusive training center of the club for the next 3+1⁄2 years.

2018: Relegation to Segunda Division

In the 2018–19 La Liga season, Girona were relegated to Segunda Division after losing 2–1 against Deportivo Alavés, ending their two-year spell in the Spanish top tier.

2021: Promotion to La Liga

In the 2021–22 season, Girona finished sixth in the Segunda Division and were promoted to La Liga in the play-offs, beating Tenerife 3–1 on aggregate in the final.

2022: Promotion to La Liga

In 2022, Girona gained promotion to La Liga through the Segunda División play-offs, marking a significant achievement for the club.

2022: Finished 10th in La Liga

In the 2022–23 season Girona finished 10th with 49 points, four points away from a UEFA Europa Conference League play-off spot.

December 2023: First League Victory Against FC Barcelona

On December 10, 2023, Girona defeated FC Barcelona in the league for the first time, securing a 2–4 away victory. This took them to the top of the table with 41 points and just one defeat, marking their best ever record in La Liga after just 16 rounds.

February 2024: Second in La Liga Table

As of February 5, 2024, Girona sat second in the La Liga table, with 56 points from 23 games and only a single loss, placing them two points behind Real Madrid.

May 2024: Qualification to UEFA Champions League

On May 4, 2024, Girona achieved a 4–2 victory over Barcelona, securing their first qualification to the UEFA Champions League, its first European qualification and finished the season in third place with 81 points.

August 2024: Data Up to Date

As of August 24 2024, the match data presented is competitive and up to date

2024: First International Match

In the 2024–25 season, Girona played their first competitive international match on September 18 against French side Paris Saint-Germain in a 1–0 loss at the Parc des Princes. David López scored Girona's first international goal on October 2 in a 2–3 loss against Dutch-side Feyenoord.