Pellicer leaves Malaga

Sergio Pellicer has just announced in a telematic press conference that he will not continue as Málaga coach next season. After ensuring mathematical permanence before last Monday's match against Oviedo, the coach communicated his intention not to continue on the bench at La Rosaleda.

Sergio Pellicer's numbers have been impeccable. He joined the first Malaguista team from the subsidiary, Atlético Malagueño, to save a situation of extreme emergency, danger of administrative decline and disappearance to which he had been led by the irresponsible management of its owner and president Abdullah Al Thani. He entered in place of Víctor Sánchez del Amo, who had been fired after the illegal broadcast of an intimate video.

Pellicer debuted on January 14, 2020 in a dramatic match against Ponferradina. That day Juande debuted because Luis Hernández, the starting central defender, was injured. Málaga won 1-0 with a goal from Antoñín. Things changed for the better.

The coach had to overcome tremendous difficulties. 17 professional chips, the atrocities of Al Thani, a general manager, Richard Shaheen, with worse quirks than his boss and with the team close to relegation. To top it off, Shaheen was negotiating with the well-known Tarifa-born French coach Luis Fernández because he didn't think Pellicer was “glamorous.” The dismissal of Al Thani, by court order, brought that of Shaheen. Pellicer continued.

And it was a blessing for Málaga. CAgainst all odds he has managed to keep the team for two consecutive seasons in the Second Division. Sports and institutional salvation. Pellicer said in his day: “I came for a month and I have already been a year.” But six months after this statement, he admitted that “there has been a lot of wear and tear.”

In this period of time he has directed a total of 58 matches plus another three of the Copa del ReY. Pellicer, who played for Málaga as a right-back in the 1996-97 season, has done a tremendous job in a very difficult time. But it will look for new challenges. The coach will direct the three games that remain to finish this championship against Girona, Leganés and Castellón.