Loren Juarros observed at Zubieta as Málaga eye play-off push | OneFootball

On the eve of Málaga’s decisive trip to the Ibercaja in Zaragoza for a play-off shot, Loren Juarros was seen at Zubieta watching Sanse against Cultural Leonesa from the directors’ box. It drew notice given his Real Sociedad ties.

AS notes the visit was routine, Juarros remains closely connected to a club where he was pivotal. He was technical secretary from 2005 to 2009, then sporting director from 2009 to 2018.

That era helped shape the txuri-urdin model now admired, with regular European football and a Copa del Rey won at La Cartuja. His pillars were the academy, promoting own talent and a solid structure that developed era-defining players.

Málaga are following that blueprint. Since arriving at La Rosaleda, Juarros has prioritised homegrown development, with 14 academy players in the first-team squad, the most in Segunda, namely Izan Merino, Ángel Recio, David Larrubia, Ramón Enríquez, Moussa Diarrá, Dani Sánchez, Carlos López, Aarón Ochoa, Rafita Garrido, Rafa Rodríguez, Chupe, Dani Lorenzo, Diego Murillo and Haitam.

Only Sanse, Real Sociedad’s B team, are entirely drawn from their own system. Pablo Arriaza and Ibon Badiola also debuted for Málaga in the Copa against Talavera.

The roadmap is to build belonging, enhance in-house value and lay lasting foundations for a return to the elite. A course that recalls, within context, Real Sociedad’s path.

There was a footballing purpose too, Juarros used the trip to assess emerging Real talents.

Source: AS