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Jonatan Giráldez was hired to be the next Washington Spirit head coach on January 9. He would not officially join the team in Washington until the conclusion of the FC Barcelona Femení season, leaving several months vacant at the head coach position.
At the time, it was a unique proposition that lacked successful models around the NWSL and, frankly, any major pro sports league. A multi-month absence followed by the insertion of a new coach in the middle of the season demanded delicate, professional care from an interim head coach.
In that role, Giráldez tapped Adrián González, a trusted friend, coaching partner, and, coincidentally, the person that gave Giráldez one of his first big breaks as a young coach in Spain.
Earlier this year, Giráldez and González sat down for a 1-on-1 and talked about their relationship, Giráldez’s arrival, and how González got asked to join the Spirit. Check out some translated excerpts from that conversation below.
Q: How did you two first meet?
GONZÁLEZ: I remember you were finishing college, and you came to do an internship at that time thinking you’d be a personal trainer.
GIRÁLDEZ: Yeah, it really was an opportunity. I had to do an internship at Espanyol (RCD Espanyol de Barcelona), and I remember I was the third one to choose and the only option available was with you and Sergio (former coach at Espanyol). For me it was a great experience because I had an opportunity not just picking up balls but also to grow and develop as a personal trainer at the moment and is something I’m highly thankful for.
Q: How did Giráldez ask you (González) to join your staff?
GONZÁLEZ: Well, that conversation was, as we say in Spanish, caught me offside, took me by surprise because we had agreed to get coffee, catch up on life, see how things were going, and I don’t know if he was planning on telling me right then and there. He said, “Adri, I have this opportunity to change teams, and I’ve been thinking about it but I’m 90% sure that I’m going to take it.” I told him, “Well, that’s great. I’m happy for you. That’s amazing news.” He stopped me, “No, I want you to come with me.”
GIRÁLDEZ: And that’s when you choked.
GONZÁLEZ: Yeah, I choked on my coffee. I felt so much honor and gratitude. I instantly knew it was a huge project. And I told him let me think about this because I truly was not expecting it, but as the days went by, I felt like it was my calling. Personally, moving to the USA was always a goal of mine and being able to work with Jonatan was truly a beautiful new challenge, so I told him I was ready to hop on board.
GIRÁLDEZ: Honestly, when the opportunity came up, I thought about Adri. It was exactly how he explained it. He’s a highly trained professional, well prepared, and he helps understand and facilitate that versatility or interdisciplinary culture that our players need — not only the role of a coach but a person who understands how to compete at a high level. Adri is a person who has all of these characteristics and, lastly, the personal connection. The character and way he carried himself, trusting this young guy back when I was 19 or 21, allowing me to lead and develop during training, it’s something to admire because it doesn’t always happen very often. He gave me a lot of confidence in a crucial moment of my life, and we’ve kept the relationship.
GONZÁLEZ: I fully agree with Jonatan. Our personal connection has united us but also our competitive spirit. We both really like to win. We hunger for high level competition and strive for the highest standard. We both share a passion for perfection. But also the huge amount of experience that Jonatan has acquired through the years, previously at Barcelona just shows his potential as a professional. The results are there, everything he has achieved and won. Having the opportunity to work alongside a professional like him, it makes me really happy to be here.
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