Málaga promotion party floods city with 185,000 fans

Málaga erupted in celebration as an estimated 185,000 fans took to the streets on Monday to honor the team's promotion back to Spain's First Division. The jubilant parade marked the club's return to LaLiga EA Sports after an eight-year hiatus, following their decisive victory over Almería in the promotion final.

The festivities kicked off from the La Rosaleda stadium and proceeded through the city, with key stops including the City Hall and the Diputación provincial. Thousands of supporters lined the route, creating a sea of blue and white. The procession included a poignant moment at the parish of San Pablo for an offering to Cristo Jesús Cautivo, a significant figure in Málaga's Holy Week traditions.

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There are many people who tell me that Madrid or Barcelona are going to come, I tell them that the most beautiful thing is that we are going to see our 'beasts' play in La Rosaleda in the First Division.

The atmosphere reached its peak at the City Hall, where players and head coach Juanfran Funes addressed the massive crowd from the balcony. Mayor Francisco de la Torre also spoke to the jubilant supporters. Málaga native David Larrubia, who served as the master of ceremonies, injected humor and irony into the proceedings, reminiscent of the team's previous promotion celebration in 2024.

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to continue fulfilling many more dreams

Several key figures shared their excitement. Coach Funes expressed his anticipation for seeing the team compete against top clubs in La Rosaleda. Larrubia, a standout player and goal scorer in the final, pledged his commitment to the club, promising to "continue fulfilling many more dreams." Goalkeeper and captain Alfonso Herrero acknowledged the team's historic achievement, while midfielder Luismi, who missed the season due to injury, was honored by his teammates with a special shirt. The coaching staff, club employees, and former coach Sergio Pellicer were also recognized.

Following the City Hall celebration, the team continued their route towards the church of Divina Pastora, a traditional pre-season stop for the club. Málaga secured the final promotion spot by defeating Almería, joining Racing de Santander and another unnamed club in ascending to the top flight.

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all of these are already history of this club, but one was missing