The Evolution of Mallorca: A Decade of Transformation

In the span of ten years, significant changes have occurred for Mallorca. In early January 2016, the American firm Liga ACQ Legacy Partners LLC, comprising Robert Sarver, Andy Kohlberg, and Steve Nash, acquired the majority stake in the club from German businessman Utz Claassen. Demonstrating their ambitious plans, the new ownership injected over 20 million euros in capital.

Subsequently, Sarver and Nash distanced themselves from the club by selling their shares, leaving Andy Kohlberg as the club’s president since September 2017.

At the time of the American takeover, Mallorca was barely surviving in the Spanish Segunda División. During the 2015/16 season, the team narrowly avoided relegation, aided by winter signings such as Lago Junior and Alfredo Ortuño. However, in the following 2016-17 season, while celebrating its centenary, the club faced relegation to Segunda B.

After hitting rock bottom, Mallorca successfully reinvented itself, featuring homegrown players like Abdón Prats—who returned to the island after several years—and high-profile signings such as Salva Sevilla. Under the management of Vicente Moreno, the team achieved the remarkable feat of ascending back to LaLiga in just two seasons.

Despite struggling to maintain its position during the 2019-20 season—the first affected by COVID-19—Mallorca made a successful return to the top division the following year under coach Luis García Plaza, who managed the team for nearly two seasons before Javier Aguirre took over.

Currently, Mallorca has secured five consecutive seasons in LaLiga and reached the Copa del Rey final in the 2023-24 season, where they narrowly lost to Athletic Club in a penalty shootout. One of the long-standing demands of the fans—the removal of the athletics tracks from the Son Moix Stadium—was fulfilled following renovations, giving the club’s facilities an admirable appearance.

Moreover, thanks to the decisive investment from the American capital since 2016, Mallorca exited the creditor arrangement it had been under since 2010, leading to improved financial health for the club. Evidence of this progress is seen in their recent signings of prominent players like Vedat Muriqi, Sergi Darder, and Pablo Torre. The club is also gaining increased global recognition, bolstered by high-profile signings such as Take Kubo and Kang In Lee, alongside a growing social media presence that has enhanced the club’s brand.

With aspirations to break into the top 10 of LaLiga, the club, under the leadership of Andy Kohlberg, plans to boost its capital with an investment close to nine million euros as a firm commitment to its growth.