Girona's remarkable journey from Spain's fifth division to a Champions League debut at PSG
A tale of resilience, determination, and the power of dreams
From humble beginnings to the grandest stage in club football, Girona's story is one of the most inspiring in modern football.
The Catalan club was founded in 1930 and spent the majority of its early years languishing in the lower divisions of Spanish football. In 2014, Girona was playing in the third tier of the Spanish football pyramid, but a series of astute signings and a change in management saw the club achieve promotion to the second tier in 2015.
Girona continued to impress in the Segunda Division, and in 2017, they achieved a historic promotion to La Liga for the first time in their history. The club's maiden season in the top flight was a success, as they finished 10th in the table and reached the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey.
In 2019, Girona was relegated back to the second tier, but they bounced back immediately and won the Segunda Division title in 2022 to earn promotion back to La Liga. The club's return to the top flight was even more impressive than their first, as they finished 11th in the table and reached the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Girona's remarkable journey culminated in the summer of 2023 when they were acquired by the Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) group, the owners of Paris Saint-Germain. The takeover has given Girona access to significant financial resources, and the club has already made a number of high-profile signings, including former Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and former Barcelona midfielder Oriol Busquets.
Girona's debut in the Champions League is a testament to the club's incredible rise through the ranks of Spanish football. It is also a reminder that anything is possible in football, and that even the smallest clubs can achieve great things with hard work, determination, and a little bit of luck.
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