Global Fútbol

Málaga CF have kicked off the season with a very exciting signing for everyone, Súper Boke. The club's new mascot, inspired by the Andalusian club's nickname, Los Boquerones – The Anchovies, in English, is a superhero anchovy designed by a lifelong Málaga CF fan.

Málaga CF wanted to show its closeness to its fans by involving them in this important decision, in a democratic and participative selection process in which the fans took part in the process, with more than 7,000 votes cast online.

For the club, this is an exciting time as the directors at La Rosaleda believe Súper Boke will help to entertain the fans on matchdays, make the atmosphere even better and, down the line, attract various business opportunities.

Discussing the plans for the new mascot, the club stated: “Súper Boke will be where the mascot can best represent the values of the institution. That won’t only be at matches, but also at events where our mascot can be an important asset. Football is entertainment and spectacle and, in the dead time before the game starts, this can be a great asset. This has been a long-standing desire of the fans and the club. A representation of the more youthful and fun spirit of the club can help us connect with the younger fans. Our mascot can be a hero for the younger fans who follow their team with passion.”

The club also expect that having a mascot will bring some economic benefits, both in the short and long term. On this, the club added: “We will see the impact of Súper Boke over time. We’re sure that it’ll bring important value for digital content and help us to grow on certain platforms. In addition, and why not say it, it will help us financially. In fact, the mascot is already being sponsored by Sanamar, an important Málaga-based and Málaga CF-supporting company that has been collaborating with Málaga CF and the club's Foundation since 2013. We also aren’t ruling out the possibility of producing Súper Boke merchandising for our official stores in the future.”

Other clubs around LaLiga have already seen how having a mascot has furthered their brand activation and growth efforts. For example, Real Betis have been able to interact with famous international influencers through Palmerín, while CD Leganés have been able to establish connections in the strategic market that is the USA thanks to a collaboration between their mascot Súper Pepino and the Portland Pickles’ Mr. Dillon. Plus, various clubs have been able to sell toys and clothing based on their mascots. 

All of this is now possible for Málaga CF, who’ll also benefit from the improvements a mascot can make to the fanbase’s matchday experience. Súper Boke will interact with the crowd and with the club’s youngest supporters, the next generation of fans, before the games and at half time. The mascot won’t only be doing this at the men’s first team’s fixtures in LaLiga SmartBank, but also at the games of the women’s team, youth teams and LaLiga Genuine Santander team.

The fans should immediately warm to Súper Boke, especially given that so many of them picked this design during the selection process. On the decision to involve the fans in choosing the new mascot, the club conclude: “We couldn't have done it any other way. This has always been a very democratic club. This mascot belongs to the fans, and they're the ones who created it. Its creator, Mario González, has been a self-confessed Málaga CF fan since he was a child, and he is very imaginative. And, logically, what better than an anchovy, given that we are affectionately known as Los Boquerones. It’s also logical that the mascot should be a hero, like all those who sit in our stands to cheer us on. After everything we've been through together, we have no doubt that they are all our heroes. It is thanks to them that we are here.”