In the northeastern tip of Spain lays a small city named Girona, an hour from the French border. It is known for its medieval walls and historic Jewish quarter, so quaint that Game of Thrones even filmed there.
The population is just a touch over 100,000, dwarfed by their Catalan neighbours Barcelona an hour down the road. For decades, too, its football team – Girona FC – has been in the long shadow of European giants Barcelona FC.
No longer. From playing in the fifth tier of Spanish football just 24 years ago, Girona has experienced a meteoric rise. Now the virtual unknowns sit second on the ladder in Spain’s top flight, only behind Real Madrid on goal difference – despite Real Madrid’s squad costing 14 times more in transfer fees.
In December, they beat Barcelona for the first time ever – at the famed Camp Nou – to announce their arrival as a legitimate contender in the title race.
And now they sit well clear of Barca and Atletico Madrid, who they beat 4-3 in a thrilling victory last week.
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After Leicester City stunned the Premier League by winning the title in 2016 on a shoestring budget, Girona are living their own fairytale.
The team is a cobbled-together squad of rejects, former Premier League players and loanees, assembled under the masterful leadership of the brother of Manchester City’s legendary coach Pep Guardiola, and financially backed by Man City’s Abu Dhabi owners, the City Football Group.
Here’s the remarkable story of the Blanquivermells – the white and reds – rose to the vertiginous heights of battling for the top of La Liga.
