From Pub Team to Europa Conference League: The Remarkable Journey of Bruno’s Magpies
As I sat down to chat with Francisco ‘Paco’ Zuniga, I couldn’t help but think that this was a story straight out of a movie script. The 28-year-old defender has come a long way since playing for a pub team in Gibraltar, and his journey is a true inspiration.
It all began in 2013 when Louis Perry, the founder of Bruno’s Magpies, moved to the southernmost tip of Spain’s south coast to take over his grandparents’ bar, Bruno’s, in Ocean Village. Louis, a county player from Portsmouth, was desperate to play football again and decided to set up a team of his own. With the help of his grandparents, he forked out £500 for the first team and £500 for a reserve team.
The team’s first full training session was held on a local beach, with players who were more enthusiastic than skilled. Twisted ankles, pulled hamstrings, and blisters were common, but it was a start. "I look back now and laugh that the signing-on fee for the players was a few pints in Bruno’s," Louis said.
The team’s recruitment strategy involved asking regulars from the bar who looked "relatively" in shape if they could play football. It was a humble beginning, but Bruno’s Magpies eventually entered Gibraltar’s second tier and started to improve their squad by scouting talent from around the world.
Fast forward to 2017, when Paco joined the team after being scouted by Enrique Cortina, who was the sporting director at Mons Calpe, a club in Gibraltar. Paco, a 6ft 1in, Mexican defender, had just been given his Spanish passport and was eager to make a name for himself in European football.
"Everything came together. It was a perfect moment," Paco recalls. "I asked, ‘Where do I sign!’ I contacted Jansen Dali, and he made it all possible." Dali, who is also Paco’s agent, had helped him secure a deal with Bruno’s Magpies.
Paco has been instrumental in the team’s success, scoring 10 goals in 86 appearances. He has also become a club legend and a fan favorite. In just three years, Paco has gone from playing for a pub team to competing in the Europa Conference League qualifiers against Danish giants FC Copenhagen.
As we wrap up our conversation, Paco reflects on the friends he’s made along the way, including Biagio, who asked him to attend a showcase in his absence. "We’re still in touch to this day," Paco smiles. "He recently called to congratulate me for reaching the Europa Conference League qualifiers. He is so happy for me. He’s called Biagio. Everybody needs to know that."
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