Málaga CF coach Juan Francisco Funes will be responsible for delivering the inaugural speech of the Málaga Fair 2026 on August 15 at the Cortijo de Torres, as announced by Mayor Francisco de la Torre.
The Málaga CF coach, Juan Francisco Funes, has been appointed as the announcer of the Málaga Fair 2026, as confirmed this Sunday by the city's mayor, Francisco de la Torre, through a video shared on social media. The selection, which fell to the coach after an open consultation with the citizens, was made official at a meeting in La Rosaleda, where the mayor went to present him with the proposal.
“Join me: we are going to offer the role of announcer of the Málaga Fair 2026 to the person you mentioned the most yesterday in your comments,” De la Torre stated before the meeting. The initiative, launched on Saturday alongside the Councillor for Festivals, Teresa Porras, invited Málaga residents to propose names through the municipality's social media. Among the suggestions, which included figures from culture, sports, and the digital realm, Funes was one of the most frequently mentioned.
The coach, originally from Loja (Granada) but closely associated with Málaga, accepted the task immediately. “Yes, of course. Besides being an honour, it is a true pleasure,” Funes responded, concluding with a message to the citizens: “See you at the Cortijo de Torres.” The announcement is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, the start date of the fair, at the Real de la Feria.
The appointment comes at a time of maximum connection between the coach and the Málaga fans. Funes has become one of the main figures of the sporting year after achieving Málaga CF's promotion to the First Division, a milestone that has skyrocketed his popularity and the city's affection for him. His role at the helm of the white-and-blue team has been key in restoring hope to the coastal congregation.
Funes takes over from Javier Castillo, a writer and announcer of the Málaga Fair in 2025. In previous years, the festivities were opened by musician El Kanka (2024), Unicaja captain Alberto Díaz (2023), and singer María Peláe (2022). The tradition of selecting personalities from sports, culture, or music is thus consolidated with the appointment of the coach.
The public consultation, a method that the municipality has used in previous editions to involve Málaga residents in the selection, has once again proven effective. According to municipal sources, participation was high, and Funes clearly won among the proposals. The mayor highlighted the harmony between the coach and the city, as well as his ability to connect with the locals.
The announcement of the Málaga Fair 2026 will take place at the Cortijo de Torres, the usual venue for the festivities, and will kick off ten days of celebrations. Funes, known for his easy speech and approachability, is expected to deliver an emotional address that links his sporting career with the sentiments of the city. The event is marked on the festive calendar as one of the central acts of the Málaga summer.
Málaga CF, for its part, is currently in pre-season, preparing for its return to the elite. The figure of Funes, who is already a reference for the fans, now takes on an extra-urban dimension as he is set to open the major festivities of the capital. For the people of Málaga, the combination of football and fair merges in the person of the coach, who promises a speech that meets expectations.
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