The Glorieta Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani was a stroke for Málaga and, by extension, for the city From the first moment that Málaga, that is, Al Thani in those days, asked the City Council to dedicate a special dedication to the owner and, then, president 'of the club, with his name. At the height of other Malaguista legends such as Viberti, Migueli. Benítez Gallardo or Manuel Pellegrini, who have perpetuated their memory with a roundabout or on a gate of La Rosaleda stadium. The proposal was supported by the Mayor of Malaga, Francisco De la Torre, with emphasis. “Justice is done with a person who showed a very clear interest in Malaga and the club, making a large financial contribution, the results of which were clearly visible. “This was on May 9, 2014. Approved by the Streets Commission. De la Torre did not imagine how much things would change.
Political clashes
The political reactions have only just begun. Al Thani, although his star was starting to decline, was still popular at least in the tweeting community. The reaction of the opposition was immediate. He was the spokesperson for Izquierda Unida, Eduardo Zorrilla, who put in the cry in the sky. There were municipal elections and this was denounced as underground electoral propaganda. “We are not referring to the roundabout itself, but to the fact that its inauguration is held during the electoral campaign despite being strictly prohibited,” he said. The inauguration, scheduled for May 19 of that year, was not carried out by order of the Electoral Board. Over the years, De La Torre will have been grateful that he did not appear in that photo hugging the sheikh. The rotunda, even with its usual plaque, was never inaugurated with the fanfare, photos, bombastic speeches, promises and showiness that our rulers love so much.
It is voted to remove the plaque, but …
A year and a half later it was confirmed that the happy roundabout was a nuisance and a nuisance. In December 2015, the mayor of Ciudadanos Alejandro Carballo presented a proposal to withdraw the name of Al Thani. “There are many more people in this city who deserve it before this man” argument. The vote was as follows: 18 votes in favor of the withdrawal (PSOE, Málaga Now, Ciudadanos and IU-Málaga para la Gente) and 13 (PP) against removing the name. But the badge was still there. Undaunted.
Time passed. Al Thani's image deteriorated as the equipment broke down.or. The sheikh's tweets were no longer funny, they were embarrassing, and the team was bleeding. Relegation, defeat with Depor in the promotion of promotion, problems with the salary limit and irreversible deterioration in the management model filled the patience of the fans, who shamelessly pointed out the culprit of so many troubles.
Al Thani was left without support. De la Torre, who had enthusiastically greeted the arrival of the Qatari, ended up disappointed and chastened. And the political class understood that a radical change was needed. Such an owner gave more problems than votes.
Clamor of the fans and political reaction
The people took justice into their own hands. With the progressive fall from grace of the Al Thani family, a sector of fans expanded their anger by sabotaging the plaque that appeared hanging on the Guadalmedina bridge attached to La Rosaleda two days after it was torn off. The City Council reinstated it after condemning “this unlawful act.” It didn't last two days. It disappeared again and was no longer repaired. It would have been a waste of time …
And the political class, as always behind the people, influenced the the need to make a symbol as unpopular as it is ignominious for the city disappear forever. In October 2019 and March 2020 it was approved unanimously the change of name from “Glorieta Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani” to “From the Malaguista fansThe swap has been delayed due to the pandemic and now the Corporation's Street Commission has given its approval.
The official announcement
“It is already a fact. The Al Thani roundabout is now called 'From the Malaguista fans'. A more than deserved change of name to reward those who really feel the colors of Malaga,” he confirmed on his Twitter account in the past Tuesday Noelia Losada, Councilor for Culture and Sports. When circumstances permit, the corresponding formal inauguration will be held. With fanfare to the taste of our politicians but, happily, without Al Thani.