May
2012 - Two years have passed since Sheikh Abdullah Ben Nasser Al-Thani took over the ownership of Málaga Club de Fútbol. Since
that time there has been many changes within the structure and management of the club. Sheikh Al-Thani has also invested
some €150 million, bringing in new players like Santi Cazorla and Ruud Van Nistelrooy among others. He also signed
up Manuel Pellegrini who has steered the team into a major contender for a Champions League place.
Not just concerned
with the sports performance, Sheikh Al-Thani also looked at the management and brought in experts to guide the club into the
forefront of Spanish and European football.
People like Fernando Hierro and many others who work hard
behind the public eye, to scout new talent and players who will be an asset for MCF's future.
The Sheikh has fulfilled his promise of improving the pitch at La Rosaleda and for the past 18 months the park has
improved and is like a field of green velvet. The stadium itself was painted and the interior has been redecorated to
a standard befitting a Primera Division outfit. The players also have a dedicated and specially liveried coach for transport
and stay in better hotels.
Málaga Club de Fútbol's official website now not only has
a dedicated section in English, but there are translations into Chinese and Arabic and on match days announcements can be
heard in English.
The 5-year plan for the club to play in Europe looks like
it could be accomplished in less time. For that we will have to see how the team do in the next three games, the first
of which is against Barcelona F.C this Wednesday 2nd May, 20.00 hrs Spanish time followed by Atlético de Madrid on Sunday,
21.00 hours and the final encounter is scheduled for Sunday 13th May against Sporting de Gijon. However date and time
for this last game has yet to be confirmed.
