The Mallorquinista: RCD Mallorca Review
Report from Charles Nutter
The new La Liga season starts in mid August with a home game against Real Madrid for Mallorca so it’s time to reflect on last season and examine the prospects.
The contrast between league and cup matches from August 2023 onwards was astonishing. Veteran head coach Javier Aguirre had performed a holding pattern since being hired in the winter of 2022 with the club in serious danger of relegation. His rigid 5-man defensive system was not pleasing to watch but ensured the reds will be in the top tier of Spanish football for the 4th consecutive season.
In the Copa del Rey the shackles were let loose and the team started with away games at lower league teams such as Egues, Burgos and Tenerife before taking on La Liga opponents in the shape of Girona and Real Sociedad and earning a trip to Sevilla to play Athletic Bilbao in the final.
More than 20,000 fans, including this Mallorquinsta, made the journey, by trains, boats and planes – not to mention some epic coach trips. The airport was a sea of red and hopes were high particularly when Dani Rodriguez opened the scoring in the first half. The Basque country outfit equalised early in the second half and in truth deserved to win in open play.
Nico Williams – more of him later – was their star performer but the teams could not be separated and after extra time Athletic won on penalties. It’s never a satisfactory way to win or lose but congratulations to them. The game was the last in charge for Aguirre and he is expected to take on the mantle of head coach for his native Mexico.
The Son Moix stadium has been redeveloped completely with the running track finally being eliminated and the stands extended down to the touchline. The atmosphere is tremendous and the fire-eating demons complete with fireworks regularly provide the pre-match entertainment.
The ground hosted a pre Euros friendly between the Spanish National team and Northern Ireland. It was a star studded performance by Spain with Nico Williams and the Barcelona wonder kid Yamine Lamal showing obvious potential. La Roja had not been mentioned by the pundits as being contenders in the Euros but they took the tournament by storm and ended up with the trophy after outplaying England in the final.
And so on to the forthcoming season. A draw was made for the fixtures; the first game at the Son Moix will be on Sunday the 18 August at 21.30 when Real Madrid comes to town. The club are expecting season ticket holders to exceed 20,000 with sales proceeding well. Match day tickets will be extremely expensive as tourists will be eager to watch the visiting superstars including Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and of course Kylian Mbappe who has now joined from Paris St. Germain.
Real Mallorca often provide a surprise against Los Blancos. New head coach Jagoba Arrasate has been appointed after a very successful spell at Osasuna. He is an advocate of attacking and pressing play using old fashioned wingers and overlapping fullbacks.
There has been a notable departure with fans favourite Jaume Costa not having his contract renewed. Having reached the age of 36 he often didn’t complete many matches. Saludos Jaume. On the incoming front, the Japanese winger Takuma Asano has been signed from German Bundesliga team Bochum. His nickname is the Jaguar because of his pace and many Japanese fans are expected to travel to the island to see him.
With the dust settling on the Euros there are expected to be more comings and goings. Mallorquinista will keep you informed.
