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Interview

Nacho: “I wish Getafe the best, but I hope Málaga wins”

The former Málaga CF and Getafe CF player, Nacho Pérez Santamaría spoke to the official Málaga website the day before the match between the two ex-teams that marked his footballing career.

Nacho Pérez, recently retired from playing football, will never forget his time with Getafe: “I had some unforgettable moments there, such as playing a Copa del Rey final,” he recalls.  “Now, Málaga and Getafe are going all out and tomorrow will be an interesting match,” he says, before mentioning a Getafe player, ‘Malagueño’, Juan Rodríguez: “We spent many years together, it was a great time in the reserve team, moving up from Third to Second Division, and I had a very special relationship with Juan.”

Currently, Nacho is the second coach of ‘Cadete Autonómico del San Félix’ (1st Andaluza). “I’m learning with the kids and Juan Carlos Añón, who is the first coach.  I’m really happy and associated with football, which is what I wanted.  I also achieved the title of Sports Director in Madrid, and have the level 2 football coach qualification.  I’m still studying, and the more I learn the better,” says Nacho, who was a midfielder or left-back with the ‘Malaguistas’.

“Our team plays against boys a year or so older than them, who are more developed as players, but we’re doing well and the important thing is to train them so they move up to ‘juveniles’ and the reserve teams,” comments Nacho, who is thrilled to work with Añon: “Who would think that football would unite us again, when I made my debut with Málaga, he was the second coach during Peiró’s time”.

At 35 years old, although he had offers from abroad and in Spain to continue playing football, a young, retired Nacho could be a good reinforcement for the Málaga Veterans team, “with whom I worked at a Modernisation Camp in Cártama, so we’ll see if I can play with them.  Raúl Iznata, ‘Koke’ Contreras and Dely Valdés are all there, so there’s got to be a great atmosphere with well-known players who enjoy football,” says Nacho, before expressing his preferences regarding the Málaga-Getafe match tomorrow: “I wish Getafe the best, but I hope Málaga continues their dynamic of play and good results.  I hope it’s a great match and Málaga wins.”