Míchel and Rayo Vallecano: A love story that continues even as he coaches Girona FC

For Girona FC coach Míchel, his team’s matches against Rayo Vallecano are always extra special. He may be achieving incredible success with the Catalan club, but Míchel is from Madrid and spent most of his sporting life on the books of Rayo Vallecano.  

He first joined at the age of 13 and made his debut for the first team in 1993 at the age of 17. He went on to play 425 official matches for the club, up until his retirement at the end of the 2011/12 season. Besides very brief stints with UD Almería, Real Murcia and Málaga CF, Míchel spent his entire playing career at the Estadio de Vallecas, fulfilling a childhood dream. 

A fan favourite, Míchel was there for three of the club’s promotions into LALIGA EA SPORTS and was a key member of Rayo Vallecano’s famous run to the 2000/01 UEFA Cup quarter-finals, scoring six goals during that European season. He always had a knack for scoring goals from midfield, although his most appreciated skills were how he could run a game from the centre and lead his team forward. 

All of this led to him being voted as Rayo Vallecano’s top “Historic Player” in 2021, a proud honour for a man who knows just how important the club is to the neighbourhood of Vallecas. As he explained in an interview: “The red stripe is in my heart, it’s the pride of a whole neighbourhood. The way of life in Vallecas is rooted in Rayo Vallecano. They can’t be understood apart.” 

A fourth promotion, this time as coach

Even when he hung up his boots, Míchel remained committed to the club and started coaching in the Rayo Vallecano youth academy. After impressing in the dugout, he became first-team coach in February of 2017 and won the LALIGA HYPERMOTION title in 2017/18. However, a difficult 2018/19 LALIGA EA SPORTS season meant he was sacked after 28 matchdays, as Rayo Vallecano looked to roll the dice and try something new, but Míchel has never held a grudge. 

In a press conference held after he was let go, he stated: “I feel emotional because of all I’ve been through here and because of all the people here who make up the club, which is a big family. The successes are thanks to them. I leave with many friends, the greatest success I can have. Rayo Vallecano may be losing a coach but the club is gaining an extra fan.”

Life after Rayo Vallecano

After departing the Estadio de Vallecas, Míchel coached SD Huesca and won another LALIGA HYPERMOTION title, in 2019/20. Again, however, he was sacked midway through the first season in LALIGA EA SPORTS. 

This led him to Girona FC and it was third time lucky for the coach. He not only secured promotion for the club, this time through the 2021/22 LALIGA HYPERMOTION playoffs, but he was able to guide them to success in LALIGA EA SPORTS and finish the job he had started. In 2023/24, Míchel achieved the unprecedented feat of qualifying Girona FC for European competition, and the Champions League at that. 

Last midweek they played their first game in that competition, away at Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes. Now, this midweek, Girona FC come up against Rayo Vallecano in LALIGA EA SPORTS and you can bet that this game will be just as special for Míchel. It always is when he faces his former club, especially when he does so in Vallecas and is treated to the warmest of ovations. This is a man who dedicated his life to Rayo Vallecano for more than two decades. Even if he no longer works for the club, he remains one of the biggest fans of Los Franjirrojos.