The good news always seems better if homegrown people are part of it. This is the case for Málaga CF. Up to five players from the youth ranks have participated with the Blue and Whites’ first team this season, giving a good account of the outstanding health of the MCF Academy. Regulars in the coach’s plans, Harper and Hicham have been joined by Iván Rodríguez, Abqar and Iván Jaime, who were under Muñiz’s orders in the Copa del Rey game against UD Almería.
Harper and Hicham are both enjoying regular minutes in the LaLiga 1|2|3. In fact, the former has played every minute except for the last nine against Córdoba, whilst the latter, who has participated in the first five League games, has accumulated 114 minutes. Meanwhile, Abqar and Iván Rodríguez – who debuted with the first team last season – played 82 minutes of the Cup game, and Iván Jaime, who at just 17 years of age was recently called-up to Spain’s U-19s, played the last eight minutes.
However, it’s not the first time that the Muñiz-Dely Valdés-Rafa Gil trio have made the most of the fruitful Blue and Whites’ youth ranks. The last time the Asturian coach was at the helm, Dely Valdés was his second in command and Rafa Gil managed the reserve team. That campaign, 2009/10, Muñiz debuted 11 of the grassroots players in the First Division: Toribio, Edu Ramos, Manu Torres, Iván González, Óscar, Javi López, Juanfri, Pedrito, Juanmi, Orozco and Portillo.
There is no doubt that Muñiz doesn’t look at the dates of birth when it comes to selecting his called-up players, and his good connection with Dely Valdés powers both the youth teams and the first team. Unquestionably a major boost to the young players from the MCF Academy who dream of one day wearing the Blue and White shirt at La Rosaleda.
