April 3, 1904 is a very special day for Malaguismo. 120 years ago the first football match was played on the Costa del Sol, where a feeling was born that has accompanied and continues to accompany thousands of Malaguistas.
On the occasion of this 120th anniversary, Málaga CF has organised several commemorative actions: a round table, a limited edition shirt and a treasure hunt through the city’s centro histórico. Additionally, on May 17, the new anthem composed by El Kanka will be released. However, the icing on the cake will be a very special match at La Rosaleda that… now has a date!
The commemorative match for the 120th anniversary of football in Málaga will be Friday May 24 and will be held at La Rosaleda. A team will be made up of iconic Blue and White players from different eras of the club. The other will be a selection of players from the Spanish Footballers Association (AFE).
At the presentation press conference, Kike Pérez - Málaga CF general manager - was accompanied by Juan Carlos Añón - former Malaguista player and coach - who will be the coach for this match in the 'Leyendas Málaga CF' team, and by Jesús Gámez - former player and ambassador of Málaga CF - who will be part of the Blue and White team for this match. The Malaguista representation expressed their joy at having been able to bring together many of the protagonists in the history of the Martiricos club and hopes that the fans will enjoy a match in which they will be able to see their favourite players in action again.
Alongside them, representatives of the AFE were also present. David Aganzo -president of AFE-, Diego Rivas -general secretary of AFE-, José Antonio Camacho -former national coach and current member of the AFE board of directors- and Ángel María Villar -ex-footballer, former president of the RFEF and founder of AFE- showed their satisfaction in collaborating in such an important event for the Costa del Sol, for Málaga CF and for the Malaguistas.
Malaguista advisors, Paco Martín Aguilar, Abdallah Ben Barek and Antonio López, together with the sports director Loren Juarros, were also present at the event. Fernando Zambrano - former coach, former player and current head of the AFE Veteran Care Department - and Movilla - former Malaguista player and member of the AFE - also attended to represent the AFE.
The generation that was promoted to the First Division in 1999 by Joaquín Peiró has a special representation because this year marks the 25th anniversary of that milestone. However, the Malaguista team has an extensive squad list that includes different stages of the Martiricos club.
These are the players who will wear the 120th anniversary commemorative shirt next Friday, May 24 at La Rosaleda: Van Nistelrooy, Duda, Willy Caballero, Baptista, Camacho, Jesús Gámez, Weligton, Salva Ballesta, Bravo, Valcarce, Ruano, De los Santos, Basti, Contreras, Josemi, Juanito, Juanma, Juan Rodríguez, Movilla, Rufete, Quino, Dorado, Larrainzar, Brahim, Roteta, Musampa, Gerardo, Sandro, Rafa, Fernando Sanz, Edgar, Zárate and Catanha. In addition, Juan Carlos Añón, Antonio Serrano, José Luis Gilabert, Juan Carlos Pérez Frías, Javier Souvirón, Miguel Zambrana and Juan Carlos Salcedo will make up a very Malaguista coaching team.
This is a charity match and tickets will be priced at €5 - Fondo Norte and Fondo Sur - and €10 - Tribuna and Preferencia. All profits raised will go to the following nine charitable associations or NGOs: ASAMMA, AFENES, Down Málaga, Hogar Abierto, Asociación Arrabal-AID, Asociación DEBRA-PIEL DE MARIPOSA, Biberódromo Málaga, Fundación Asilo de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles and Hermanitas de los Pobres Málaga.
See you on Friday , May 24 at La Rosaleda, Malaguistas!