Growing up, he played football at any opportunity,[2] and had stints with local clubs Sárdoma, Coruxo and Areosa between 1997 and 2012, but even when young decided he would be better coaching.

[2][6] In his early years in Catalonia, he commentated on matches and taught courses for people pursuing UEFA coaching licences.

[5][2] Giráldez's first roles were in coaching and sports analytics for RCD Espanyol Cantera and the youth sections of the Catalonia women's national football team.

[9] Spending three years as a technical assistant, Giráldez held an increasingly important role in training and game strategy;[5][6] the team reached the UEFA Women's Champions League finals,[3] and won most domestic titles in this era.

[23] Still, there was some criticism in Barcelona in the months after the announcement, when it was suggested that Giráldez was more focused on his new team than overseeing the success of his current one; he dismissed this.

[2] The Guardian opined that "Fairytale endings rarely exist but sometimes in football, the script really does write itself", in reference to him leaving the club on a high.

[24] The newspaper also felt that Giráldez, through his time as assistant and then manager, had set up the team for continued success, writing that "[they] have developed a desired combination of technical prowess and working out how to get the result over the line.

Instead, during the break for 2024 Olympic football, Giráldez' first matches with the Spirit are set to be in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.