"I feel proud to have been Malaga coach and now become one of the fans"

Javi Gracia gave his final press conference as Malaga CF coach at La Rosaleda Stadium on Wednesday, after the announcement of his departure at the end of this season.

While reading out a statement filled with emotion and gratitude, the Spaniard was sure to thank everybody linked to the club from board members and players to workers, members of the coaching staff, and above all, the supporters.

"Thank you for making me feel like one of you and for supporting me in my job with love and respect. I feel proud to have been Malaga coach and now become one of the fans. Thank you to Malaga and the region as a whole. I don't know where my professional career will take me, but my personal life will certainly bring me back here," he revealed.

Statement Javier Gracia https://t.co/OM6gifW5bn

— Málaga CLUBdeFÚTBOL (@MalagaCF_en) May 25, 2016

"Thank you to the whole squad and all the players who've given their all to ensure the supporters have enjoyed themselves. They are great people, too. I feel I've really done my best. I've tried to take care of the youth ranks and the general situation at the club is significantly better than when I arrived. That's what I'll take with me," he added.

Gracia led Malaga to a ninth-place finish in the 2014/15 Liga BBVA season, which he improved upon this campaign by finishing eighth. The announcement of his departure does not rule out a possible future return. "I'd like to thank Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani for his unconditional and unwavering support, for being so close despite the physical distance at times, and for leaving the door open for me to return to the club in the future," stated the coach, who will take over the reins at Russian side FC Rubin Kazan on a four-year contract.