For Spanish football enthusiasts, the returns of Deportivo La Coruna, Racing Santander, and Malaga to La Liga are a welcome sight.

All three have been synonymous with Spain’s top flight in the past 30 years, before various factors led to their departure from professional football.

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Of the trio, Malaga seemed the least likely to recover.

Ten years after stunning Europe’s elite in the Champions League, the Andalusians faced a crisis with no owner, dwindling finances, and a bleak outlook.

Yet, thanks to a spirited group of young players, an unconventional coach, and a devoted fanbase, ‘los boquerones’ have made their return.

This is how they achieved it.

On April 9, 2013, Malaga was just minutes away from reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

The competition debutants were leading 2-1 against Borussia Dortmund, only to be eliminated in a heartbreaking finish after two stoppage-time goals from Jurgen Klopp’s formidable team.

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Despite this setback, Malaga was on track to achieve what many clubs had attempted and failed—to consistently challenge Spain’s ‘big three’ of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid.

Following the takeover by Qatari Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani in 2010, the traditionally second-tier club transformed into a European contender.

Manuel Pellegrini was appointed manager and given access to quality players, including Santi Cazorla, Jeremy Toulalan, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and budding star Isco.

However, Pellegrini left for Manchester City, and Isco signed with Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, marking the beginning of a decade-long decline for the club.

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The subsequent season saw Malaga banned from the Europa League due to violations of UEFA’s financial fair play regulations, triggering significant player sales and a subsequent relegation from La Liga in 2018. In 2020, a regional court ordered Al-Thani’s removal over alleged misappropriation of funds.

European and international arrest warrants were issued against the Sheikh and his three sons, with prosecutors seeking prison sentences totaling 14 and a half years for alleged financial misconduct.

Court-appointed administrator Jose Maria Munoz has managed operations since 2020.

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Years of fire sales and reliance on free agents temporarily stabilized Malaga’s finances, but by 2023, a thin squad fell into the regionalized third division.

“I was at the last game in the second division against Ibiza. Both teams were already relegated, and it felt like a funeral,” said podcaster and season-ticket holder Matt Harrison.

Escaping ‘the well’ and Kung Fu Panda

Spain’s third tier is known as ‘el pozo’—the well—due to its notorious difficulty in escaping. A group of local businessmen expressed concerns over creating a phoenix club if Malaga disappeared from the football landscape.

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Fortunately, a determined squad of youth players and local talent secured promotion at the first attempt.

Finishing third in the southern division of the third tier, Malaga faced Gimnastic Tarragona in a two-legged playoff final.

With the Catalans leading in the final moments of extra time during the second leg, Antonio Cordero netted the equalizer, sending the traveling fans into a frenzy and restoring Malaga’s place in the second tier.

“The city erupted with promotion back to the second division,” Harrison noted. That season in ‘el pozo’ reignited the city’s passion for its football club.

“Regrettably, in Malaga, there have always been numerous Real Madrid and Barcelona supporters,” remarked Malaga supporter and journalist Jose Luis Sabatel.

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“However, as Malaga’s fortunes dwindled, many local residents became ‘Malaguistas’ [supporters].”

Sergio Pellicer, in his second tenure as manager, led the team to a 16th-place finish in the second division but began the next season with only four victories in 14 matches.

Consequently, the reserve team coach, Juan Francisco Funes, who lacked professional playing or coaching experience, took over.

A few weeks prior, Funes had contemplated returning to teaching as his squad languished at the bottom of their fourth division group.

Funes started his tenure with one win and two draws, but then the team surged, winning their next six games and climbing to third in the table.

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The improvement in results was matched by the emergence of entertaining, attacking football.

“That football style, combined with local players, created a perfect mix that invigorated the fans,” Harrison noted.

Among those players were academy products like striker Chupe—who scored 25 goals—winger David Larrubia, and defender Diego Murillo, along with others who grew up in the stands at La Rosaleda.

Funes’ familiarity with his younger players from the academy aided the turnaround.

“He already knew their strengths, weaknesses, and personalities from the outset, allowing them to hit the ground running,” said Radio Marca journalist Juanje Fernandez.

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Using his teaching background, Funes motivated the squad through historical quotes and films, a method that included referencing *Kung Fu Panda* to boost their morale.

“From day one, the players embraced Funes’ ideas,” Fernandez added.

“Footballers perform best when they genuinely believe in their tasks rather than merely following orders.”

Funes affectionately referred to his players as ‘los bichos,’ a term denoting talented individuals that later became the team’s nickname.

Another nickname that took hold was ‘Funesbuque,’ or ‘the good ship Funes.’

After finishing fourth in the league, the 2025-26 season culminated in a playoff final against Almeria.

Despite having one of the smallest budgets in the division—spending merely £325,000 on permanent transfers since 2020—Malaga faced a club that spent over £10 million that season alone.

After a goalless draw at home in the first leg, hundreds of fans gathered at motorway bridges to send the team off to Almeria.

This visible support became emblematic of the strong bond established between the team and its fanbase in recent times. Fans regularly greeted the team bus at the stadium with flags and pyrotechnics.

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A song adopted by the club’s Fondo Sur ultras, inspired by the Moroccan ultras scene, became the anthem of the season, titled ‘Es la Vida Loca’—the crazy life.

Despite an average attendance last season ranking 11th in the country, only a few hundred tickets were available for the Almeria game.

However, when Chupe put Malaga ahead and Larrubia curled in a spectacular second goal, the entire fanbase celebrated together, with kit supplier Hummel incorporating the names of all 26,550 season-ticket holders into a special one-off jersey.

The 2-1 victory sparked massive celebrations in Malaga. After a weekend of festivities, around 185,000 fans gathered on the streets to welcome the team.

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“It was a once-in-a-generation moment. Many young fans had never seen Malaga play in La Liga,” Fernandez remarked.

“An entire generation grew up after the club’s Champions League era facing financial distress, sports disappointments, and uncertainties surrounding their beloved club.”

Following a second night of celebrations, several players invited fans to join them at 07:00 on Monday at a roundabout in a western suburb, and hundreds showed up.

“That bond between the players and fans was one of the defining aspects of this campaign,” Fernandez added.

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“It contributed to a sense of unity, with everyone—from the players in the dressing room to the streets of the city—working toward the same goal.”

Given financial limitations, Malaga’s preparations for the upcoming season have been modest.

Key players have renewed contracts, while sporting director Loren Juarros has made smart loan signings, including bringing back promotion hero Carlos Dotor from Celta Vigo and securing winger Juan Cruz on loan from Leganes for £256,000.

Malaga fans are aware their club is favored for relegation.

They will start the season with challenging matches against Atletico Madrid (Wednesday, 20:00 BST kick-off) and Real Madrid, but after enduring so much, this challenge does not daunt them.

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“Malaga’s journey is beautifully intricate, filled with numerous twists and turns and culminating in the most captivating ending,” Sabatel said.

“Moving forward, we can only enjoy.”

For Spanish football enthusiasts, the returns of Deportivo La Coruna, Racing Santander and Malaga to La Liga are a welcome sight.

All three have been synonymous with Spain’s top flight in the past 30 years, before various factors meant they dropped out of professional football.

Advertisement

Of the trio, Malaga seemed the least likely to recover.

Ten years after stunning Europe’s elite in the Champions League, the Andalusians had no owner, no money, and seemingly no future.

Yet thanks to a hungry group of youngsters, an unconventional teacher and a fanbase that refused to let their club die, ‘los boquerones’ are back.

This is how they did it.

On 9 April 2013, Malaga were minutes away from reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

The competition debutants led 2-1 at Borussia Dortmund, but were dumped out in heartbreaking fashion after two stoppage-time goals from Jurgen Klopp’s fearsome side.

Advertisement

Regardless, Malaga looked set to achieve what countless others had tried and failed to – consistently challenge Spanish football’s ‘big three’ of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

In 2010, Qatari Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani bought what was traditionally a second-tier club and began transforming them into a European contender.

Manuel Pellegrini was installed as manager and provided with quality players including Santi Cazorla, Jeremy Toulalan, Ruud van Nistelrooy and promising youngster Isco.

But Pellegrini joined Manchester City and Isco signed for Real Madrid in summer 2013 – and hopes of a golden era at Estadio La Rosaleda morphed into a decade of decline.

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The following season Malaga were banned from the Europa League for breaching Uefa’s financial fair play (FFP) rules regarding overdue payments.

Mounting debts necessitated player sales, and relegation from La Liga followed in 2018. Two years later a regional court ordered Al-Thani’s removal because of alleged misappropriation of funds.

European and international arrest warrants have been issued against the Sheikh and his three sons, with prosecutors seeking prison sentences totalling 14 and a half years for alleged misappropriation, unfair administration and abusive corporate decisions.

Court-appointed administrator Jose Maria Munoz has overseen operations since 2020.

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Fire sales and years of relying on free agents and loan signings helped steady Malaga’s financial position, but in 2023 a threadbare squad slipped into the regionalised third division.

“I was at the last game in the second division against Ibiza. Both teams were already relegated and it was like a funeral,” said podcaster and Malaga season-ticket holder Matt Harrison.

Escaping ‘the well’ and Kung Fu Panda

Spain’s third tier is known as ‘el pozo’ – the well – because it is notoriously difficult to climb out of. Fearing the worst, a group of local businessmen discussed plans to form a phoenix club in the event Malaga faded into obscurity.

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Fortunately, a hungry squad of youth-team players and local lads secured promotion at the first attempt.

After finishing third in the south division of the third tier, Malaga faced a two-legged play-off final against Gimnastic Tarragona.

With the Catalans on top in the dying moments of extra time in the second leg, Antonio Cordero bundled the ball home to send the travelling fans wild and Malaga back to the second tier.

“The city exploded with promotion back to the second division,” said Harrison. That season in el pozo seemed to reignite the city’s love for its football team.

“Disgracefully, in Malaga there have always been lots of Real Madrid and Barcelona fans,” said Malaga supporter and journalist Jose Luis Sabatel.

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“But when Malaga flew lower, an enormous quantity of ‘Malaguenos’ [residents] became ‘Malaguistas’ [supporters].”

Sergio Pellicer – in his second spell as manager – followed promotion with a 16th-place finish in the second division, but began the next season with just four wins in 14 games.

He was replaced by reserve-team boss Juan Francisco Funes, who had never played or coached in professional football.

A few weeks earlier the former teacher had considered returning to the classroom with his side bottom of their fourth division group.

After beginning the Funes era with one win and two draws, the gamble began to pay off as Malaga won their next six games and surged to third in the table.

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Not only did the results improve, but what had been a restrained side started playing some entertaining, attacking football.

“That style of football combined with local players made a perfect cocktail that energised the fans,” says Harrison.

Those players included academy graduates like striker Chupe – scorer of 25 goals – winger David Larrubia, and defender Diego Murillo, as well as others who grew up in the stands at La Rosaleda.

Knowing many of his younger players from the academy certainly helped Funes turn things around.

“He already knew their strengths, weaknesses and personalities from the outset. There was virtually no adaptation period, so they hit the ground running,” says Radio Marca journalist Juanje Fernandez.

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Funes drew on his teaching experience, using historical quotes and films to motivate and convey ideas to a young group.

He is likely not the only coach to draw inspiration from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, but he might be the first to use Kung Fu Panda to aid a promotion push.

“The players bought into Funes’ ideas from day one,” adds Fernandez.

“Footballers tend to perform at their best when they genuinely believe in what they’re being asked to do, rather than simply following instructions.”

Funes speaks about his players like they are his children, once affectionately describing them in an interview as ‘los bichos’. The colloquial term used to describe talented people soon became the team’s nickname.

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‘Funesbuque’ is another name that stuck – ‘the good ship Funes’.

After finishing fourth, the 2025-26 season boiled down to a play-off final against Almeria.

Malaga had one of the smallest budgets in the division and had spent just £325,000 on permanent transfers since 2020. Almeria spent more than £10m that season alone.

After a goalless home draw in the first leg, hundreds of fans lined motorway bridges heading out of the city to wave the team on their way to Almeria.

It was a sight symptomatic of the strong bond forged between the team and its fanbase in recent years. It became a common occurrence for fans to welcome the team bus to the stadium with flags and pyrotechnics.

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A song adopted by the club’s Fondo Sur ultras, borrowed from the ultras scene in Morocco, became the soundtrack of the season. ‘Es la Vida Loca’ – the crazy life.

Malaga’s average attendance last season was the 11th-highest in the country, but only a few hundred tickets were available for the game in Almeria.

Yet when Chupe steered Malaga in front before Larrubia curled in a stunning second, the whole fanbase did too – kit supplier Hummel incorporated the names of all 26,550 season-ticket holders into a special one-off strip.

The 2-1 victory sparked mass celebrations in Malaga. After partying all weekend, an estimated 185,000 fans lined the streets to give the team a triumphant welcome.

Advertisement

“It was a once-in-a-generation moment. Many young fans had never seen Malaga play in La Liga,” says Fernandez.

“An entire generation had grown up after the club’s Champions League years knowing little more than financial turmoil, sporting disappointment and uncertainty surrounding the club they loved.”

After a second night of partying, several players took to social media to challenge fans to meet them at 07:00 on Monday at a roundabout in a western suburb. Hundreds answered the call.

“That connection between the squad and the fans was one of the defining features of the campaign,” adds Fernandez.

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“It helped create a sense that everyone, from the dressing room to the streets of the city, was pulling in the same direction.”

Given their financial constraints, Malaga’s preparations for the top flight have been low-key.

Several important players have renewed their contracts, while sporting director Loren Juarros has made some astute loan signings.

Promotion winner Carlos Dotor returned on loan from Celta Vigo, while £256,000 was spent on loaning winger Juan Cruz from Leganes.

Malaga fans know their club are favourites for relegation.

They open the season with daunting trips to Atletico Madrid (Wednesday, 20:00 BST kick-off) and Real Madrid, but after what they have been through that should not faze them.

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“Malaga’s story is beautifully convoluted, with plenty of plot twists and the most enchanting ending,” says Sabatel.

“From now on, we can only enjoy.”