Former FC Barcelona Femeni coach Jonatan Giráldez has won everything there is to win in Europe. He had one of the most talented rosters in the world too, including 2023 World Cup and Ballon d’Or winners.
So why would the 32-year-old coach leave that behind to come to the Washington Spirit?
For one, he wanted to suffer.
“For me, when you are part of an important process, in terms of building something, and when you suffer to win, that is the best moment to grow,” Giráldez said. “When you win every week, when you know it’s easy victories, that is like, ‘OK, you are suffering, but it’s not so special.’ The kind of feelings when I have to manage the situation, the important moments, when you are playing finals, a Champions League, or important games — I want to have this kind of feeling every week.”
In 2023, after winning a treble that included a Champions League title, Giráldez received an offer from the Spirit in December to be their next head coach. The team had fired previous head coach Mark Parsons after he failed to get the team into the playoffs.
Giráldez had just become a father and was looking for a new challenge. He had a renewal offer from Barcelona, who wanted him through 2026, but going to the NWSL was what he saw as that much-needed challenge….
