Juan Francisco Funes

Born in Loja, Granada, Andalusia, Funes was a CD Imperio de Albolote youth graduate, before making his senior debut with hometown side Loja CD in the 2002–03 season, in Tercera División.^[2]

In January 2005, after playing for lowly CF Villanueva Mesía and CA Monachil, Funes returned to Loja. He later moved to CD Huétor Tájar in the following year,^[3] and retired in 2009, aged 26.^[1][2]

In July 2009, Funes was invited to join Fernando Estévez's staff at his former club Loja, as his assistant.^[1] In June 2013, he was appointed manager of the side after Estévez left.^[4]

Funes departed Loja on 4 June 2014,^[5] and rejoined Estévez's staff at CD Guijuelo on 11 July.^[6] In December, however, he left the latter due to personal reasons,^[7] and returned to managerial duties with Vélez CF on 28 January 2015.^[8]

Funes left Vélez by mutual consent on 3 March 2015,^[9] and returned to Loja on 6 July.^[10] He again left the club in June 2017, and was named at the helm of CD El Palo on 20 October of that year.^[11]

On 30 June 2020, Funes was appointed manager of Málaga CF's reserves in the fourth division.^[12] He agreed to contract extensions over the following years,^[13][14] and led the club to a promotion to Segunda Federación in the 2024–25 campaign after leading their group.

On 19 November 2025, Funes replaced Sergio Pellicer at the helm of the first team of Málaga in Segunda División.^[15] On his professional debut four days later, he led the side to a 3–2 home win over CD Mirandés.^[16]

Funes led the club to a nine-match unbeaten run in the league, which included six straight wins, which left the club in the promotion play-off places.^[17] Despite suffering two losses in the following three matches, he remained unbeaten in the following six rounds, renewing his contract until 2028 on 29 March 2026;^[18] his side also ended the season with a promotion to La Liga in the play-offs.^[19]

As of 20 September 2026