In a move that had seemed inevitable after a disastrous end to the campaign, Michel has officially ended his five-year tenure at Girona. The announcement came just days after the Catalan club’s relegation from La Liga was sealed with a 19th-place finish in the 2025-26 season. Addressing the press on Thursday, the 50-year-old coach confirmed he would not be staying in the Segunda División, closing one of the most remarkable chapters in Girona’s history.
Michel’s journey with Girona was transformative. Hired in 2021, he immediately led the club back to the top flight through promotion. Two seasons later, he achieved the unimaginable: guiding Girona to a historic third-place finish in La Liga, securing qualification for the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League. That feat marked the pinnacle of the club’s existence and cemented Michel’s reputation as one of Spain’s brightest coaching talents.
However, the 2025-26 season exposed the squad’s vulnerabilities. A late-season collapse proved devastating; the team failed to win any of their final eight matches, recording four draws and four defeats. That winless streak dragged them into the relegation zone, and despite moments of earlier promise, the final whistle confirmed their return to the second division. The drop ended a five-year stay that had elevated the club to unprecedented heights.
Michel’s departure was handled with typical dignity. He expressed gratitude to the fans and the board but acknowledged that a new chapter was necessary after the emotional toll of relegation. 'I gave everything for this club, but we are at the end of a cycle,' sources close to the manager reported. For Girona, the immediate task is to identify a replacement who can navigate the challenges of the Segunda División while preserving the club’s playing philosophy.
Michel leaves behind an enduring legacy. He transformed Girona from a second-tier afterthought into an established top-flight side that briefly mixed with Europe’s elite. The Champions League nights at Montilivi, even if fleeting, will remain etched in memory. His brand of attacking, high-pressing football drew widespread acclaim and proved that smaller clubs could dream big with the right leadership.
As one door closes, another appears to be opening. Reports in the Spanish press suggest that Michel is a leading candidate to take over at Ajax Amsterdam. The Eredivisie club is expected to part company with Óscar García, his compatriot, who arrived in March 2026 and underdelivered. A move to the Johan Cruyff Arena would represent a significant career step, offering Michel the chance to compete for silverware and return to Champions League football.
The potential appointment would carry major implications. For Ajax, it would bring a coach known for overachieving with limited resources and committed to an attractive, possession-based style that aligns with the club’s traditions. For Michel, it is the kind of platform his work at Girona merits—an opportunity to shape a storied institution and reassert himself on the European stage.
Back in Girona, the mood is one of reflection and rebuilding. Relegation comes with financial setbacks and the likelihood of losing key players, but the club’s recent history offers hope. The academy pipeline and the identity forged under Michel provide a foundation. The board must act swiftly to appoint a successor capable of leading an immediate promotion push, ensuring the legacy of success does not fade into prolonged obscurity.
The 2025-26 season will be studied as a cautionary tale of how quickly fortunes can shift in football. Girona’s fall underlines the harsh realities faced by clubs of their stature when balancing domestic demands with European adventures. Yet, in Michel’s departure, there is also a sense of opportunity—for both the coach and the club to reset and pursue new ambitions.
For now, the football world salutes Michel’s achievements at Girona and watches keenly to see where his tactical acumen will shine next. His departure marks the end of an era, but the story he wrote in Catalonia will inspire similar projects across the continent. As Girona turn the page, Michel prepares to begin a new chapter, with Ajax looming as a compelling destination.
Based on reporting from L'Equipe.