Six Years Under the Court's Watch: Málaga CF's Long Road to Nowhere (and Back)
Málaga CF mark six years under judicial administration. We look back at a turbulent half-decade of instability, relegation, and uneasy calm.
Six years. Half a decade plus one. That’s how long Málaga CF have been run not by an owner, a board, or a sporting director with a vision — but by a court-appointed administrator. Happy anniversary, lads.
How It All Started
On 20 February 2020, a judge at Málaga’s Court of First Instance No. 14 appointed lawyer and economist José María Muñoz to take over the running of the club. It came off the back of a complaint from Málaga’s small shareholders group, which triggered a National Police investigation that found enough dodgy business to boot the Al-Thani family out of the driving seat.
When Muñoz rocked up, the club was in a right state. Credit where it’s due — he steadied the ship in those early days.
Six Years of Drama
Since then, it’s been a proper rollercoaster at La Rosaleda:
- Stayed up in Segunda División initially
- Relegated to Primera RFEF (the third tier) — a genuinely horrific moment for a club of Málaga’s history
- Promoted back to Segunda, where they currently sit
- Now enjoying a relative period of calm under the watch of Funes
But here’s the thing — that calm could be well and truly blown up come the summer, with restructuring seemingly on the cards again. Málaga fans have been here before, and they know better than to get too comfortable.
The Numbers Behind the Man
This is where it gets a bit mad. Muñoz has now been in charge for 263 matches as Málaga’s administrator. To put that into context:
- If he were a player, he’d be level with club legend Bravo this weekend — fifth all-time in appearances for the club, behind only Valcarce, Weligton, Gámez, and Duda
- As a manager equivalent, he’s already shattered the records of Sergio Pellicer and Joaquín Peiró
- The only gaffer with more games in Málaga’s history is Antonio Benítez, from the old CD Málaga days, with 311
- In the boardroom stakes, Muñoz sits second all-time for longest tenure — behind Al-Thani, who clocked up nearly a decade before the courts intervened
What Next?
The mood among the fanbase has shifted considerably. Muñoz went from being seen as a saviour to someone a chunk of supporters have actively protested against. That’s football administration for you — no one’s a hero forever.
The big question hanging over everything is what June brings. Another restructure, another upheaval? Málaga deserve stability and a proper project. Six years of judicial oversight is six years too many for a club that was playing European football not so long ago. Sorted? Not even close.