Málaga CF coach, Juanfran Funes, delivered a massive opening speech at the Real del Cortijo de Torres, with a discourse that mixed football, emotions, and a call for the values of the city.
The Málaga CF coach, Juanfran Funes, made history this Saturday by delivering the opening speech for the Feria de Málaga in front of the largest crowd ever recorded at the Real del Cortijo de Torres. The event, which kicked off the festivities, became a significant gathering for Málaga fans, with over 200,000 people according to the coach's own estimates.
The city's mayor, Francisco de la Torre, opened the event by thanking Funes for his acceptance and highlighting his work leading the team: “No one better than him to symbolise a person who has done so much for Málaga. The miracle of Funes. A formidable job”. He also recalled the promotion to the First Division, achieved after winning the final against Las Palmas and Almería, defining it as “the crowning of immense joy for the city”.
Funes took the floor and began with a message of unity: “Days of coming together, laughing, and enjoying are here. Let’s blow the whistle to start our fair”. The coach, born in Loja but settled in Málaga, shared a personal confession: “My daughter was born in Málaga. Málaga opened the doors of its home to become our home”. He also asked those present to imagine a team of illustrious Malagueños, with names like Antonio Banderas, María Zambrano, or Chiquito.
The speech had a football structure. Funes explained that a team is not just 11 players, but everyone rowing together, and he championed the roles of bakers, teachers, merchants, builders, and fishermen. For this, he was joined by several club representatives: Izan Merino represented the Centro area, Joaquín Muñoz represented Málaga’s maritime side, and Raúl Iznata represented Teatinos and the university Málaga.
Izan Merino highlighted the city’s values: “In the heart of Málaga, faith is discovered. In Capuchinos, the Divine Shepherdess; in La Victoria, the patroness, and heading down towards La Trinidad, the Captive, which reminds us that the greatest strength lies in always getting back up after falling”. Meanwhile, Joaquín Muñoz called out to Málaga looking towards the Mediterranean, from La Malagueta to Pedregalejo and El Palo, not forgetting Huelin, and reminded everyone that “around the espeto, there’s always room for one more”.
Raúl Iznata, the team delegate, closed the speeches with a nod to the calendar: “This weekend the league starts but we don’t play. Every week I make a call-up and this week I didn’t have to. But I made the best of my life, the call-up for the fair”. Funes concluded his speech by championing the pride of belonging and the collective spirit of the city, in an event that is now part of the history of the Feria de Málaga.
You may also like
