The Fall and Rise of Malaga CF: A Journey from European Glory to Third-Tier Football
Discover the remarkable journey of Malaga CF, a Spanish football club that experienced a dramatic fall from grace but remains committed to reclaiming its position in Spanish football.
Football / 2024-03-29 10:15:5
A Historic Achievement Almost Within Reach
Looking back on that fateful day on April 9th, 2013, Malaga faced Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. The Polish trio of Piszczek, Błaszczykowski, and Lewandowski were on the pitch for Dortmund. Malaga's captain at the time, Isco, responded with a goal in the 40th minute to Joaquin's opener, but the real drama unfolded in the 82nd minute when Eliseu found the net. The entire Signal Iduna Park fell silent as Malaga came within inches of a historic achievement. Having topped the group, which included AC Milan, and eliminated FC Porto in the round of 16, Malaga had the opportunity to defeat the reigning German champions. However, Jurgen Klopp's Dortmund team managed an incredible comeback with goals from Reus and Felipe Santana in added time, securing their place in the semi-finals.
The Rise to Prominence
Malaga CF had been a force to be reckoned with in European competition, coming into the tournament as the fourth-placed team in La Liga, even surpassing Atletico Madrid in the league standings. Led by experienced manager Manuel Pellegrini, the squad boasted talents such as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Santi Cazorla, Joris Mathijsen, Martin Demichelis, and a young 17-year-old sensation named Isco. Although there were some changes in the subsequent seasons, Pellegrini had a strong team at his disposal, reinforced by the likes of Jeremy Toulalan, Julio Baptista, Javier Saviola, and Diego Lugano. Malaga enjoyed several successful years, consistently finishing near the top of the table, but the departure of Isco, who joined Real Madrid for €30 million, marked a turning point for the club.
Challenges and Relegation
From that point forward, Malaga encountered various challenges. UEFA imposed a ban on European competition due to the club's financial issues, and Pellegrini was replaced as manager by Bernd Schuster, who struggled to replicate his predecessor's success and was dismissed after just a year. The revolving door of managers continued, with the club regularly occupying mid-table positions. However, in the 2017/18 season, Malaga ultimately suffered relegation to the second division. Although they had the opportunity to make an immediate return to La Liga through the playoffs, they were defeated by Deportivo La Coruna. Missing out on a second chance, the club spiraled further into crisis, ultimately plummeting to the third tier of Spanish football.
Rebuilding and the Journey Ahead
Yet, Malaga remains committed to rebuilding and reclaiming its position in Spanish football. The ongoing season marks their first in the third division since the 1997/98 campaign when they returned to the top-flight following the bankruptcy of the club in the 1990s. Throughout its history, Malaga has been one of the most prominent clubs in Spain, spending 37 seasons in the top division, placing them 17th in the all-time standings. Currently, they are fighting for promotion back to the second division and appear to be on track for a successful return. Under the guidance of manager Sergio Pellicer, the team is on a six-match unbeaten run, occupying the fourth spot in the table with 56 points. Among the players at Pellicer's disposal is Victor Garcia, a former player of Polish club Śląsk Wrocław, who featured in 64 matches for the team in the past two years. Castellon currently tops the table with 63 points, closely followed by Cordoba with 60 points. Only the first-placed team will secure automatic promotion, while the teams finishing 2nd to 5th will participate in the playoffs.
The Future Looks Promising
Malaga CF's journey serves as a cautionary tale of how quickly a prominent club can fall from grace. However, their determination to recover and return to the top-flight demonstrates the resilience and fighting spirit within the organization. With a squad that continues to gel and a strong management team at the helm, the future looks promising, and Malaga CF may soon be back where they belong, competing amongst the best in Spanish football.