Malaga's amazing rise

Malaga is nicknamed Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun), full of beautiful beaches with cool breezes coming in from the Mediterranean to calm the subtropical sun.

The city seems best suited for the life of a rich footballer -- warm climate, trendy night life, and for the more cultured, it is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. Historically, this did little to draw any top footballers in due to the team's lack of ambition and more importantly adequate funding. All this changed in June 2010 when the club was bought by a member of the Qatari royal family for a paltry 36 million euros. Abdullah bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al Ahmed Al Thani and his advisors spoke about a five-year plan that would redevelop Malaga and see them competing at the highest levels and challenging for titles. Despite having a copious amount of funds at their disposal, the owners have spent intelligently and with a clear plan set in place for the future of the club.

The initial splurge saw notable veterans Enzo Maresca, Martin Demichelis and Julio "The Beast" Baptista sign with Malaga. For a small market club these were big names arriving on their shores, but not the type that would generate waves. Results were disappointing in the beginning, and a quick managerial change was made that saw Jesualdo Ferreira replaced by Manuel Pellegrini, former boss at Real Madrid. But the performances continued to be average at best, and Los Boquerones (the anchovies) only survived because of a tremendous run of form at the tail end of the season, picking up seventeen points in their final eight games to stave off relegation by three points.

Malaga underwent a massive overhaul this past summer after an eleventh place finish last season, releasing eleven players to make room for a solid core group of higher standard and more experience. Ruud van Nistelrooy came in on a free transfer from Hamburg, and the combination of Joaquin, Joris Mathijsen, Jeremy Toulalan and Santi Cazorla were brought into the fold at a cost of approximately 34 million euros. Every purchase was tactical and filled a necessary hole in the line-up, forming a solid foundation and strengthening the spine of the team in the process.

Results have been decent, but a better second half is needed to qualify for Europe. Malaga currently sits in seventh, five points off a Champions League spot, with only goal difference keeping them out of Europe all together. Strong at home, with five wins in seven, their only defeat came at the hands of Real Madrid. It has been their away form that has proved costly and in need of serious improvement, two wins in nine matches and outscored almost two to one. Away losses to Sevilla, Levante and Valencia have caused some worry, considering all three sit above them in the standings. Consistency outside the comfort of La Rosaleda will be of great importance if they wish to realize their ambitions.

Cazorla has been the key signing, surprisingly lured away from Villarreal with a price tag of almost 19 million euros, becoming a vital part of the club's plans moving forward. With four goals and two assists, those numbers do not do justice to the influence he has on the pitch. Mathijsen provides defensive cover in the midfield, and Demichelis does a great job leading the back line. The only negative has been the lack of productivity from the front men -- new signings Van Nistlerooy and Baptista have combined to produce just a goal apiece in twelve starts total, and Rondon has only two in fifteen.

It will be interesting to see how much money will be spent in the summer, with funds readily available, but the quality of players coming in will be based on results earned this season.

Malaga has the resources to be reckless in the transfer market, but so far have shown restraint in their dealings, refusing to overspend just to get the signature. Instead they do a great job of selling the long term goal for the club. My prediction at the start of the season was a fourth place finish, which at the moment is very possible -- taking four points from their next two matches at home to Atletico and Real Madrid would be a massive statement of intent coming out of the winter break.

Free spending Manchester City have gone through a similar rise to prominence, and although Malaga have gone about their business differently, the two are somewhat linked because of wealthy owners that practically have a license to print money. You would have been laughed at hysterically if you spoke seriously of the possibilities of City making the Champions League and challenging for titles prior to their takeover. After Sheikh Mansour poured hundreds of millions into the club, the team has climbed up the table at a rapid pace, finishing tenth, fifth and finally third in the league last season, earning a lucrative spot in the Champions League.

Malaga is far from the finished product, but their ascent into the upper echelons of La Liga will be just as swift as that of City in the Premiership. Cash is king in modern football, and Malaga has hit the jackpot, not having to rely on the minimal funds that trickle down from Spanish television, created by an unfair system that allows Real Madrid and Barcelona to negotiate their own exclusive rights, while the remaining clubs have to settle for the leftovers. UEFA's financial fair play rule has slowly kicked in, but their new found wealth has allowed them to close the gap considerably before the ball drops.

If you have yet to take notice, this is your wake up call.

Thomas Michalakos is a former associate producer with Sportsnet's Soccercentral and writes the weekly blog Soccerholic365. Follow Thomas on Twitter.