LYON, France — Jonatan Giraldez, formerly the coach of both Barcelona and the Washington Spirit, has taken the helm at the renowned French club OL Lyonnes. He steps in to fill the position previously held by Joe Montemurro, who recently took over as the head coach of the Australian women’s national soccer team. Giraldez has committed to a three-year contract with OL Lyonnes, the team confirmed.
The women’s team, known for its incredible success, has recently adopted the new name OL Lyonnes, which fuses the name of the city with the French term for a lioness. The announcement of Giraldez’s appointment comes as a significant move for the club, which has a prestigious record, including eight European championships.
Prior to joining OL Lyonnes, Giraldez led Barcelona to an extraordinary season finale, securing multiple titles including the Liga F, Copa de la Reina, Spanish Super Cup, and the Champions League, before moving to the Washington Spirit in June of last year. Both OL Lyonnes and Washington Spirit share ownership under Michele Kang.
Michele Kang expressed her confidence in Giraldez’s abilities, stating, “Jonatan’s dedication to achieving excellence and his strategic insights are unparalleled. His leadership and focus on developing players will drive our team forward, both on the national and international stages.” She further emphasized Giraldez’s potential role in advancing OL Lyonnes, expressing optimism that he will lift both the players and fans to new heights.