A year ago, a key part of the historical evolution of the Martiricos entity left us. His name, Joaquín Peiró. The galgo del metropolitano was a legend as a player, arriving at Malaga as coach in the 98/99 season.
It wasn’t an easy start for Peiró at Málaga. The team had just been promoted to the Second Division under another coach who didn’t continue in the role, Ismael Díaz. Then president, Fernando Puche trusted Peiró, who had an extensive career behind him, backed by a good previous season in Badajoz, also in the silver division.
The first turning point for Peiró during his successful career at La Roslaeda, following a run of bad results in the first third of the league, was a Málaga – Logroñés clash in which defeat could – possibly – have cost him his role as coach, and we would never have seen what would happen next. That unforgettable 3-2 win with a brace from Basti was the beginning of his wonderful Blue and White story.
Peiró took Málaga back to the elite with a team of champions and beautiful football that the fans fell in love with. Over the following four years, at the hand of the wise ‘grandfather’, the team enjoyed the best stage the Club has ever experienced up until then, under any name, with milestones that still resonate strongly in the memory of Malaguismo.
Peiró’s Málaga reached its peak in the summer of 2002, when the Club participated in European competition for the first time. The team won the Intertoto Cup which, in turn, gave direct access to the UEFA Cup. MCF shone in Europe, just losing out on penalties against Portuguese outfit, Boavista, and was the first Andalusian team to reach the quarter-finals.
As well as the dizzying heights of his work as coach, Joaquín Peiró was a wonderful person. Noble, elegant, affable, observant, clever... But, above all, a GENTLEMAN. Like a second father to his players. A true gentleman and figure of Spanish football.
It’s an immense honour to rename the local bench at La Rosaleda Stadium after a man who, with such simplicity and skill, made our Málaga Club de Fútbol even bigger.
Mr Joaquín Peiró, may you rest in peace.
#MCFCommitment
