Washington Spirit Coach Giraldez Reportedly Leaving for OL Lyonnes in June

Washington Spirit head coach Jonatan Giraldez is set to leave the club in June to become the new head coach of OL Lyonnes, a French powerhouse also owned by Spirit owner Michele Kang. Giraldez, who previously led Barcelona to multiple Liga F and UEFA Women’s Champions League titles, took over the Spirit in July 2024 and quickly guided them to the NWSL Championship final. His departure comes as current OL Lyonnes coach Joe Montemurro plans to leave for the Australian women's national team, prompting Giraldez's move to Lyonnes. Adrian Gonzalez, who served as interim head coach at the start of the 2024 season, is expected to succeed Giraldez at Washington. Kang’s ownership group, Kynisca, now includes the Spirit, OL Lyonnes, and London City Lionesses, with ambitions to expand further globally. While Kang has emphasized that her multi-club model would not involve moving top players between teams, Giraldez’s transition from one Kang-owned club to another raises questions about the growing influence of this multi-club ownership in women's soccer.