Girona confirm Michel Sanchez exit as Ajax move edges closer to completion

Girona have confirmed in an official statement that Michel Sanchez has left the club following their relegation from La Liga at the end of the 2025-26 season, clearing the path for the Spanish manager to take charge at Ajax.

The announcement formalises what had been building for several weeks, with Ajax widely expected to appoint Michel as their next head coach. His departure from Montilivi was the final procedural step required before a move to Amsterdam can be completed.

In their statement, Girona said: “Míchel Sánchez will not continue at Girona FC. The club would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Madrid coach for the dedication, commitment and professionalism with which he has led the first team, as well as for the human, close and respectful treatment he has maintained at all times with the members, fans, management and all the workers of the Club.”

Michel’s tenure at Girona will be remembered primarily for its extraordinary high point: guiding the Catalan club into the Champions League for the first time in their history in 2024, just two seasons before their relegation. That achievement cemented his reputation as one of the more inventive coaches in Spanish football, and it is that standing — rather than the difficult final campaign — that has attracted Ajax’s interest.

Despite the drop to Segunda División, the 50-year-old, who previously managed Rayo Vallecano and Huesca, was always unlikely to remain with a second-tier side. His profile and the reported interest from the Netherlands made a swift exit the expected outcome.

Girona now face a significant rebuilding task. Finding a manager of comparable ambition will be difficult given the club’s newly relegated status, and the squad itself is likely to be substantially reshaped over the summer transfer window.