To everyone's surprise, Girona are still competing for a Champions League spot in La Liga this season. Their manager, Michel, and his CV are particularly interesting. He took charge of Rayo Vallecano in the 2017-18 season when they were in the Segunda Division, and he propelled them to promotion. However, after an abysmal run in the top division, Michel was sacked midway through the season, and the club were relegated.
 
In the summer of 2019, Michel was appointed as the head coach of Huesca, and the same pattern recurred: promotion, string of poor results, Michel getting sacked, and the club getting relegated.
 
In 2021, he took charge of Girona in the Segunda Division and got them promoted. In the following season, Michel was finally able to break the unwanted streak as the club stayed up in La Liga comfortably, finishing in 10th position. In the 2022–23 season, Michel said: “My idea as a coach has always been the same, which is to be a protagonist."
 
While Michel’s dynamic, attacking football didn’t work at his previous two clubs, his appetite for risk is paying him dividends at Girona.