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September 1, 2024

Stuani and Girona’s Tough Journey Back – La Liga 2

“The thorn that relegation left in my side can only be removed by promotion,” Cristhian Stuani said,  and now he’s back here. The Uruguayan striker made a different decision that turned out to be longer and more complex than he had anticipated but somehow correct in the end. There were other, much simpler options—possibly even better ones. Even in those moments when he may have been excused for questioning his actions, even when everything went wrong. Redeeming himself had been his preference over fleeing; thus far, it had brought him back to a place he knew well. Sunday will determine where it leads him next.

It was the summer of 2019 when Stuani made his surprising decision. Girona Futbol Club had just experienced the heartbreak of relegation from La Liga. After losing to Levante, their first and only stint in the top flight ended in disappointment, just one match before the season concluded. With no certainty of a quick return to La Liga, most expected Girona’s top talents to leave for greener pastures. It’s a familiar story: relegated teams often see their best players sold off as clubs look to balance the books and players seek to remain in top-tier football. Stuani, Girona’s star striker, seemed destined to be one of them.

No one would have blamed him for leaving; most expected it. Stuani had been Girona’s leading scorer during their debut La Liga season with 21 goals and followed it up with another impressive tally of 19 goals in their second season. He was responsible for 42% of their goals, directly impacting more than half. If anyone had proven too talented for the second division, it was Stuani. Offers from other clubs, including Barcelona, were already on the table. It seemed a matter of when, not if, he would depart. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, Stuani chose to extend his contract with Girona as the transfer window neared its end. It was a bold move that wouldn’t be the last time he defied expectations.

Stuani chose to stay in Girona, partly because it felt like home to him. By committing to the club, he further cemented his place there, becoming even more of a local hero. From age six to thirteen, he played at Atenas, a youth club in Tala, about 100 miles from Montevideo. His professional career began at Danubio, with a loan spell at Bellavista, before he leaped across the Atlantic to join Reggina at just 20. From there, he played for Albacete, scoring 22 goals to help them gain promotion from the second division. His journey continued through Levante, Racing Santander, Espanyol, and Middlesbrough.

When Stuani arrived in Girona at age 31, he had no connection to the club or the city. His best years seemed behind him, and he came with no expectations or obligations. Few could have predicted that he would go on to become Girona’s all-time leading scorer and arguably their most outstanding player, even inspiring a fan petition for a statue to be erected in his honor outside the stadium.

Yet, Stuani described his arrival in Girona as ‘love at first sight,’ and that feeling translated onto the pitch. He was better than anyone could have anticipated—perhaps even better than he had ever been before. He was a revelation, exceeding expectations and breaking records. His 21 and 19 goals for Girona were surpassed only by his remarkable season with Albacete in the second division. Before that, his goal-scoring records were modest: four, seven, twelve, six, seven, nine, and eight goals across different seasons. While these numbers were reasons for Girona to want him to stay, they also made him a target for other clubs.

But his decision had deeper reasons—something more profound, if less tangible. The fans adored him and cherished him even more after he chose to stay. With its stunning scenery of coast and mountains, ideal climate, and excellent cuisine, Girona itself had become a true home for him. Then, there was his loyalty to the club and a newfound sense of belonging that he had not experienced elsewhere. And yes, the financial offer was good, even if he might have earned more elsewhere.

“I weighed it all up and took the decision to stay,” Stuani said. “I had the chance to take other routes, and very good ones in sporting terms, but I chose to stay here. It’s where I want to be. I backed the club, and the club backed me: they were very good with me.”

 Stuani was still unable to compete in the second division, though.

“When the relegation was confirmed, it hit Cristhian hard,” Quique Carcel, the sporting director, stated.” I always knew he was happy in Girona and wanted to continue, but also that it was hard because he had many offers.”

But after the window, it was a fact: a first-division star was somehow being held on to by a second-division side.

“I stayed to fight for a challenge that was not at all easy,” Stuani said. “I hope we can come back up.”

Girona, sixth in the league, drew 0-0 with Tenerife in the final’s first leg, despite possessing 70% of the ball and 16 shots to 3 in their victory against Eibar in the semifinal. With that relegation thorn now removed from Stuani’s side, they will return to the top division if they can make that count in the second leg. They are now on the brink. The problem is that it sounds more accessible than it actually is. That thorn is deeply ingrained, bitter memories from the past.

Stuani has been a relentless force in the second division, scoring 29 league goals in his first season, 10 in his second despite being hampered by injuries, and 22 this season. He has been the division’s Pichichi (top scorer) twice, leading Girona’s charge to return to La Liga. They’ve come agonizingly close: this marks the third consecutive year they’ve reached the playoff final. In both previous attempts, they played the decisive second leg at home with everything seemingly set in their favor, yet promotion slipped through their fingers. Last season, after a 2-1 away win against Rayo Vallecano, Girona suffered a heartbreaking 2-0 defeat at home, reduced to 10 men for nearly the entire second half. The year before, a 96th-minute goal by Pere Milla saw them lose out to Elche.

Now, they are back in the playoff final again, narrowly edging out Real Oviedo to clinch sixth on the head-to-head record, followed by a victory over Eibar to advance.

Eibar’s story is an almost unbelievable misfortune. After leading the league for nearly the entire season, they dropped to third place and into a playoff position on the final day following a 91st-minute defeat to already-relegated Alcorcon. Then, after securing a 1-0 win away at Girona, they were knocked out in the semifinal by a 91st-minute goal—scored by none other than Stuani, who remains driven to fulfill his promise of bringing Girona back to the top flight. This is Girona’s third straight playoff final since their relegation. Once again, they find themselves on the brink of breaking the cycle.

Girona’s playoff struggles run even more profound, hinting at a club-wide curse. They’ve reached the playoff final five times and lost each one, a record unmatched by any other team. In 2013, Almeria denied them; in 2016, it was Osasuna. The heartbreak could have been worse in 2015—a season where they didn’t even make it to the final. They needed a draw on the last day to secure automatic promotion, but they lost and fell into the playoffs. After a commanding 3-0 win against Zaragoza in the first leg of the semifinal, they thought their path to the final was secure. Resting players for the final, Girona was stunned in the second leg, losing 4-1 and crashing out.

“I don’t know if this is going to be the good year or not,”  Michel, the manager of Girona, who is well aware of their unlucky streak, stated. Girona hopes that playing away from home can be beneficial. Perhaps placing sixth this time, the only spot they hadn’t finished in previously, will help, too. Maybe the third time is a charm. Perhaps even sixth. You’ll cling to anything at this point. Maybe it’s now time to remove that thorn from their body. Or perhaps it’s just justice done right, finally.

 Stuani scored twice against Almeria in the semifinal of the 2020 season, the season he stayed and vowed to lead them back. He brought his league goal total to an incredible 31 and led his team to the final at the Primera entrance. There, he was sent off against Elche. He felt that the card was harsh and hurt and that all that was taken away from him.

“The hours pass and I still can’t find any explanation,” he said afterwards. “All I can do is get up again like I have done my whole life. Football hit us hard, but I’m sure it will pay us back one day.”