Málaga

190px
Full name	Málaga Club de Fútbol, S.A.D.
Nickname(s)	Los Boquerones (The Anchovies)
Founded	1948 (as Club Atlético Malagueño)
Ground	La Rosaleda, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain (Capacity: 28,963)
President	Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani
Manager	Manuel Pellegrini
League	La Liga
2011–12	La Liga, 4th
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.

Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares the same fan base and traditions, although in legal terms it's a different entity with a separate register and another founding date, that of its former reserve team, Atlético Malagueño. As such, after the 20 seasons in La Liga, 29 in Segunda División, and nine in Tercera División played by the now defunct CD Málaga, the current Málaga CF has played nine seasons in La Liga three in Segunda División, three in Segunda División B and one in Tercera División. They also won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2002 and qualified for the following season's UEFA Cup, reaching the quarter-final stages.

In 2006 Lorenzo Sanz, a former Real Madrid president, purchased a 97% holding in the club and then appointed his son Fernando Sanz, the former captain of the team, as club president. The club was again sold in June 2010, as Qatari investor, Abdullah bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al Ahmed Al Thani, bought the club from Sanz.

The club, which has a reserve team, Atlético Malagueño, also has a sizeable British following, mainly down to the large amount of British expats residing on the Costa del Sol.

Málaga participated in the 2009 Peace Cup, held in Andalusia, with Seville, Huelva, Jerez and Málaga the host venues. Málaga were drawn against English team Aston Villa and the Mexicans Atlante. Málaga beat Aston Villa but lost to Atlante and finished bottom of their group.

History[link]

• Main article: History of CD Málaga

Club replacement in 1992[link]

CD Málaga had a reserve club, founded on May 25, 1948 when CD Málaga took over a junior club, CD Santo Tomás, with the purpose of establishing a reserve team. The club was renamed Club Atlético Malagueño, reviving the name of one of the two clubs that had merged to form CD Málaga in 1933.

During the 1959-60 season, CA Malagueño and CD Málaga found themselves together in the third level. As a reserve team, the former should have been relegated. To avoid this, they separated from their parent club and registered as an independent club with the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

In 1992, when CD Málaga dissolved after financial difficulties, CA Malagueño continued playing. The 1992-93 season saw them playing in Tercera División Group 9. After a successful campaign, the club was promoted to Segunda División B. However, the following season the club was relegated again and, facing financial difficulties, were in danger of folding. On December 19, 1993, in a referendum, the club's members voted in favour of changing names and, on June 29, 1994 CA Malagueño changed their name to Málaga Club de Fútbol S.A.D., becoming an official successor to what was previously called Club Deportivo Málaga.

Rise to prominence in the early 2000's[link]

In the early 2000s Málaga, were a club rich in youth and top quality players, and boasted a more modern and developed stadium. Although they never pushed for a Champions League place, Málaga were always successful under the hugely popular Joaquín Peiró.

They made a solitary appearance in the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2002, clinching their only official trophy by beating Gent, Willem II and an improving Villarreal CF. Málaga's run in the UEFA Cup wa something of an overachievement, and ended in a defeat on penalties in the quarter-finals to Boavista F.C., after beating FK Željezničar Sarajevo, (who had been eliminated from the Champions League by Newcastle United), Amica Wronki, Leeds United (after a 2-1 win at Elland Road, courtesy of 2 Julio Dely Valdés goals) and AEK Athens.

After Peiró's retirement, a mass exodus slowly started. Dario Silva, Kiki Musampa, Dely Valdés and Pedro Contreras all left the club. Juande Ramos took over as coach and oversaw a 5-1 home thrashing of FC Barcelona, the club's biggest victory against the Catalan giants, with a hat-trick from loanee Salva Ballesta (who would end up missing out on the Pichichi Trophy by just 2 goals). However, Ramos left for Sevilla FC and Gregorio Manzano took charge.

Slow decline and financial issues[link]

Although steering Málaga to their second consecutive 10th-placed finish, Manzano could not prevent a lacklustre side from being relegated, and they finished bottom of the league with a paltry 24 points to their name.

Málaga began the new second division season well. However, their form dipped dramatically and for two of the remaining six weeks were in the relegation zone. Málaga managed to address this situation and survived their first Segunda season.

The 2007–08 Segunda División also began impressively, with seven straight victories. Málaga seemed to be on track for promotion but, after another slump in form, they were overtaken as leaders by CD Numancia. They needed victory in their final game, at home to CD Tenerife, to guarantee promotion. Two goals from Antonio Hidalgo secured a 2–1 triumph and Málaga returned to the top flight as runners-up.

The arrival of Sheikh Al Thani[link]

A member of the Qatari Royal Family, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nassar Al-Thani purchased the club for a reported 36 million euros on June 11, 2010. Sheikh Al-Thani became president of the club on July 28.^[1][2]Jesualdo Ferreira was brought in as coach but was sacked after a series of bad results. Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, who had previously been in charge of Villarreal and Real Madrid, took the reins while the club was in the relegation zone. He oversaw a revival thanks to five consecutive wins later in the season, a historic first for the club. With several new signings, which included Enzo Maresca, Martín Demichelis, and Júlio Baptista, the club managed to finish in 11th place.

Manuel Pellegrini "Era"[link]

Manuel Pellegrini was given a contract extension of 3 years to coach at Málaga, mainly due to saving them from relegation. In the new season he released 11 players and reinforced the team with quality veteran players, such as Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jérémy Toulalan and Joris Mathijsen, good enough to compete for a European place in La Liga.

During his first full season with Málaga, he guided them 4th in La Liga, and took them to the Champions League qualifiers for the first time in the clubs history.

Affiliated clubs[link]

The following clubs are currently affiliated with Málaga CF:

• Real Jaén (2011–present)^[3]
• Córdoba CF (2011–present)^[4]
• C.D. Palestino (2012−present)^[5]

Andalusia Derby[link]

Honours[link]

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1
  • 2002
• Segunda División:
  • Winners 1998–99: 1
  • Runners-Up 2007–08: 1
• Segunda División B: Group IV
  • Winners 1997-98: 1
• Trofeo Costa del Sol: 4
  • 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011

Honours CD Málaga[link]

• Ricardo Zamora Trophy: 1
  • 1971–72 (Deusto)
• Segunda División
  • Winners 1987–88: 1
  • Runners-Up 1948–49, 1969–70, 1978–79: 3
• Segunda División Group 2
  • Winners 1951–52, 1966–67: 2
  • Runners-Up 1961–62, 1964–65: 2
• Trofeo Costa del Sol: 3
  • 1963, 1971, 1974

Note: CD Málaga material trophies and belongings are now possession of Málaga CF, placed in its display cabinet

Trofeo Costa del Sol[link]

Between 1961 and 1983 the club organised its own summer tournament, the Trofeo Costa del Sol. The former CD Málaga won this competition themselves on three occasions, beating Real Madrid, Red Star Belgrade and Derby County in the finals. After a long time of inactivity from 1983 onwards, the competition was revived in 2003. Since then, the current Málaga CF has won the competition on three occasions, beating Newcastle United F.C., Real Betis Balompie and Parma FC in the finals. The six trophies are currently placed together in Málaga CF display cabinet.

Shirt sponsor[link]

On 27 August 2009, Málaga CF announced that they had signed a three year sponsorship agreement with gambling company William Hill, where the William Hill brand will be displayed on the front of the Málaga CF shirts.^[6] The contract however ended already in 17 September 2010 as the new Málaga ownership didn't want to continue with a company dealing with gambling as it was against his religion. Málaga made a sponsorship agreement with UNESCO on June 2011.

Current squad[link]

The numbers are established according to the official website: www.malagacf.es and www.lfp.es

As of 15 May 2012

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Rubén Martínez 2 DF Jesús Gámez (captain) 3 DF Weligton (vice-captain) 5 DF Martín Demichelis 6 MF Ignacio Camacho 7 MF Joaquín Sánchez 8 MF Jérémy Toulalan 9 FW Ruud van Nistelrooy 11 FW Sebastián Fernández 12 MF Santi Cazorla 13 GK Willy Caballero 14 DF Joris Mathijsen 15 DF Nacho Monreal

No. Position Player 16 MF Enzo Maresca 17 MF Duda (vice-captain) 18 MF Eliseu 19 MF Júlio Baptista 20 MF Diego Buonanotte 21 DF Sergio Sánchez 22 MF Isco 23 FW Salomón Rondón 25 GK Carlos Kameni 26 FW Juanmi Jiménez 27 MF Francisco Portillo 28 MF Recio

Out on loan[link]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player — DF Iván González (at Real Madrid Castilla) — MF Javi López (at Real Jaén) — MF Sandro Silva (at Internacional) — MF Ryan Ash (at GSW)

Personnel[link]

Current technical staff[link]

Chilean Manuel Pellegrini is the current manager of the team.

See also Category:Málaga CF managers

Position	Staff
Head Coach	Manuel Pellegrini
Assistant Coach	Rubén Cousillas
General Manager	Fernando Hierro
Sporting Director	Antonio Fernández
Fitness Trainer	José Cabello Rodríguez
Goalkeeper Coach	Xabi Mancisidor
Technical Assistant	Vicente Valcarce

Last updated: 13 July 2011
Source: Málaga CF

Seasons[link]

Recent seasons[link]

Season		Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	P	Spanish Cup	Europe		Notes
1999-00	1D	12	38	11	15	12	55	50	48	2nd Round
2000–01	1D	8	38	16	8	14	60	61	56	2nd Round
2001–02	1D	10	38	13	14	11	44	44	53	Round of 32
2002–03	1D	14	38	11	13	14	44	49	46	Round of 32	UC	quarter-final
2003–04	1D	10	38	15	6	17	50	55	51	Round of 16
2004–05	1D	10	38	15	6	17	40	48	51	Round of 32
2005–06	1D	20	38	5	9	24	36	68	24	3rd Round			relegated
2006–07	2D	15	42	14	13	15	49	50	55	Round of 16
2007–08	2D	2	42	20	12	10	58	42	72	Round of 32			promoted
2008–09	1D	8	38	15	10	13	55	59	55	Round of 32
2009–10	1D	17	38	7	16	15	42	48	37	Round of 16
2010–11	1D	11	38	13	7	18	54	68	46	Round of 16
2011−12	1D	4	38	17	7	14	54	53	58	Round of 16

Season to season (Former CD Málaga)[link]

• As Fútbol Club Malagueño

• As Club Deportivo Malacitano

• As Club Deportivo Málaga

Season to season (Current Málaga CF)[link]

(From 1948 to 1994, Málaga CF was known as Club Atlético Malagueño)

• As Club Atlético Malagueño (as reserve team of CD Málaga)

• As Club Atlético Malagueño (as independent team)

• As Málaga Club de Fútbol

• As CD Málaga:
• 20 seasons in the La Liga
• 31 season in the Segunda División
• 9 season in the Tercera División

• As Málaga CF:

(as reserve team of CD Málaga)

• 37 season in Tercera División
• 7 seasons in Categorías Regionales

(as independent team)

• 11 seasons in La Liga
• 3 seasons in Segunda División
• 4 seasons in Segunda División B
• 2 season in Tercera División

Stadium information[link]

• Main article: Estadio La Rosaleda

Selected former players[link]

(This list includes players of CD Málaga and current Málaga CF)

see also Category:CD Málaga footballers
see also Category:Málaga CF footballers

Selected former coaches[link]

(This list includes managers of CD Málaga and current Málaga CF)

see also Category:CD Málaga managers
see also Category:Málaga CF managers

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Málaga CF

• Atlético Malagueño
• CD Málaga
• Trofeo Costa del Sol
• Football in Spain

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website (English)
• Málaga at La Liga (Spanish) (English)
• Futbolme team profile (Spanish)
• International supporters' site (English)
• History of Football in Málaga (Spanish)
• Foro Malaguistas (Spanish)
• Unofficial website
• Trofeo Costa del Sol (Spanish)
• Trofeo Ciudad de Torcal (Spanish)
• Fan's Blog
• The on-line trading cards collection of Málaga C.F!