Girona announced that Quique Álvarez will serve as the team's head coach in the new season.

Girona Football Club has confirmed that Quique Álvarez will serve as the first-team head coach for the new season. The club has chosen to promote a coach from within its own development system to ensure continuity and stability in the sport, entrusting the team's future to this homegrown coach with a deep understanding of the club's structure. A one-year cooperation agreement has been reached between the two parties.  

Quique Álvarez previously served as head coach of Girona B for two seasons, achieving positive results. Under his leadership, the team successfully achieved promotion from the Spanish Third Division to the Spanish Second Division and maintained their league status last season. These experiences fully demonstrate his ability in developing young players, building teams, and improving competitive performance, while also reflecting his comprehensive understanding of the club's youth academy system.  

Quique Álvarez, 50, was born on July 20, 1975, in Vigo. As a player, he primarily played as a center-back, developed through Barcelona's youth academy, and had a professional career spanning over 15 years. During this time, he played for clubs such as Logroñés and Lleida, and completed seven seasons in La Liga with Villarreal.  

Since ending his playing career in 2009, Quique Álvarez has dedicated himself to coaching. He worked in Barcelona's youth academy and subsequently served as a member of the coaching staff at clubs such as Villarreal, Alavés, and Levante, gradually accumulating a solid coaching resume. Before taking charge of Girona's first team, he spent a long time working with the B team, establishing a closer connection with the club's development philosophy.  

In his new coaching role, Quique Álvarez will continue working with his existing coaching staff. Óscar Álvarez will serve as assistant coach, while Jordi Barcelís will be responsible for fitness and conditioning. Óscar Álvarez previously played for Girona from 2008 to 2010, serving extensively as a member of the B team coaching staff and contributing to the team's development alongside Quique Álvarez. Barcelís, on the other hand, possesses extensive first-team experience, having served as fitness coach under Pablo Machín and focusing on building the B team's fitness and conditioning system in recent years.  

With his official appointment as first-team manager, Quique Álvarez will shoulder the important mission of leading Girona back to La Liga. The club believes that his extensive experience, deep understanding of the club's values, and ability to develop young players will drive the team towards its competitive goals. This appointment also demonstrates Girona's strong commitment to its internal talent development path and its continued adherence to a development strategy based on cultural heritage, strengthening team identity, and prioritizing youth training.  

Image source: Internet/Girona official website