Málaga CF

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Lore & Background

Málaga's history is a story of reinvention. Club Atlético Malagueño was founded on 25 May 1948 as a reserve team of CD Málaga, after absorbing CD Santo Tomás. When both clubs found themselves in the 1959–60 Tercera División, CA Malagueño—as a reserve team—should have been relegated. To avoid this, they separated from CD Málaga and registered independently with the Royal Spanish Football Federation. That move allowed CA Malagueño to survive after CD Málaga suspended operations. The 1992–93 season saw CA Malagueño promoted to Segunda División B, but relegation and financial struggles followed. On 19 December 1993, members voted to change the name, and on 29 June 1994, the club became Málaga Club de Fútbol S.A.D. The early 2000s brought success under Joaquín Peiró: they won the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup by beating Gent, Willem II, and Villarreal, then reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, losing on penalties to Boavista after eliminating Željezničar Sarajevo, Amica Wronki, Leeds United (with a 2–1 win at Elland Road via two Julio Dely Valdés goals), and AEK Athens. After Peiró's retirement, a mass exodus began. Juande Ramos took over and oversaw a 5–1 home thrashing of Barcelona, the club's biggest victory against the Catalan giants, with a hat-trick from loanee Salva Ballesta. Ramos left for Sevilla, and Gregorio Manzano took charge.

In Their Own Story

The 2012–13 UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Borussia Dortmund is seared into Málaga's memory. After a 0–0 draw at home, the team traveled to Germany needing a result. With the score at 1–2 in the 90th minute, Málaga seemed destined for the semi-finals. But two late goals—Marco Reus in the 90+1st minute and Felipe Santana in the 90+3rd minute—turned the tie in Dortmund's favor. Club president Abdullah ben Nasser Al Thani immediately announced a formal complaint would be filed with UEFA and FIFA. The following season, Málaga was banned by UEFA for its debts, though the ban was eventually downgraded to one season, excluding the club from the 2013–14 Europa League. In the summer of 2013, key players Isco, Joaquín, and Jérémy Toulalan were sold. Manager Manuel Pellegrini was replaced by Bernd Schuster. A steady decline followed, culminating in relegation on 19 April 2018 after a 0–1 loss to Levante U.D., ending ten consecutive seasons in La Liga. In May 2023, Málaga fell to the third tier for the first time since 1998. They finished third in Group 2 of the Primera Federación, then earned promotion by defeating Gimnàstic 4–3 on aggregate in the 2024 play-offs. Málaga secured their return to La Liga after eight years with a 2–1 away victory over Almería in the second leg of the 2026 Segunda División play-offs.

Reader's Guide

For fans following Málaga's journey, key moments define the club's identity. The 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup win remains their only official trophy. The 2011–12 season saw the club sign Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jérémy Toulalan, and Santi Cazorla for a club-record €21 million, alongside Isco, Joaquín, and Nacho Monreal. Málaga finished fourth in La Liga, qualifying for the Champions League for the first time. In the group stage, they went unbeaten against Milan, Anderlecht, and Zenit Saint Petersburg. In the round of 16, they beat Porto 2–0 at home after a 1–0 away loss. The quarter-final against Dortmund, with its controversial late goals, remains a heartbreak. Financial troubles deepened after 2013. In early 2020, reports emerged that owner Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani and his family owed Málaga €7.3m in loans and credit lines, with allegations of buying out shares for personal expenses—though up to February 2022 no evidence proved misconduct. In August 2020, the court-appointed administrator announced he would lay off the entire first-team squad to save the club. Despite this, Málaga fought back from the third tier, earning promotion in 2024 and returning to La Liga in 2026. The club's honours include one Segunda División title (1998–99), one Segunda División B title (1997–98), three Tercera División titles (1963–64, 1992–93, 1994–95), and nine Trofeo Costa del Sol wins (2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2025).

Did You Know?

• Málaga's origins trace to Club Atlético Malagueño, founded on 25 May 1948 as a reserve team of CD Málaga.
• They won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2002, beating Gent, Willem II, and Villarreal.
• In the 2012–13 Champions League, Málaga went unbeaten in the group stage against Milan, Anderlecht, and Zenit Saint Petersburg.
• The club's most expensive signing was Santi Cazorla from Villarreal for €21 million in 2011.
• Málaga fell to the third tier in May 2023 for the first time since 1998, but returned to La Liga in 2026 after winning the Segunda División play-offs.