If Nathan Rooney’s FCB Magpies manage to pull off one of the greatest upsets in European football history, they already know where the celebration will be.
The ‘pub team,’ which started at Bruno’s bar in Gibraltar for just £500 back in 2013, now finds themselves competing among Europe’s elite Bongdalu.
On Thursday, they will take on 15-time Danish champions FC Copenhagen in the first leg of their Europa Conference League second-round qualifying tie.
Last season, FC Copenhagen defeated Manchester United at home during the Champions League group stage and advanced to the last 16 of Europe’s top club competition.
Now they are up against a team from a footballing nation with a population of just under 33,000—smaller than the Faroe Islands—meaning everyone in Gibraltar could fit into Copenhagen’s 38,000-capacity Parken Stadium.
Despite the challenges, Magpies boss Rooney is determined to keep pushing the limits.
“The ‘pub team’ label is something we should retain, as it adds to the appeal and captivates those fascinated by our story,” he said, ahead of the match at Europa Point Stadium—a sports complex on the Rock of Gibraltar with a capacity of 875.
“The key is how things grow and evolve.”
“Even competing against these teams means we need to keep the ‘pub team’ label, but also evolve beyond it. We’re working to transition the club from a part-time, hybrid model to a full-time, sustainable operation.
“To achieve this goal, we are using young players, as well as making deals to buy and sell top players.”
Before officially entering the tournament, we need to invest in many aspects, not only stopping at buying and selling top players, but we also have to extend contracts with good players currently playing. at the club.
This progress has enabled them to sign former Aberdeen defender Ashton Taylor, who joined after leaving Bradford in May. Rooney also believes the league could transition to a full-time structure within the next 18 months.
He explains: “We’ve reached three cup finals, secured three consecutive European qualifications, and it’s becoming clear that we’re on the path to sustainability.
“Our team is going down, and is considered the weakest football team in Europe.
“In the league, to support our European efforts, we need to invest more—not just in acquiring better players, but also in securing longer-term contracts.
“With these investments, we believe we will help the club develop further in the future, as well as increasingly regain the team’s position in the continental arena.”
Rooney’s relentless ambition for success as a career coach
Rooney didn’t end up in Gibraltar by chance. He began his coaching journey in his late teens with Blackburn’s youth setup, where he worked with a young David Raya, and earned his Uefa A licence by the age of 22.
At 24, he took on the role of head of youth at Fleetwood, collaborating with Steven Pressley, Graham Alexander, and Uwe Rosler. He then joined Crawley as an assistant to Italian Gabriele Cioffi, who later managed in Serie A with Udinese and Hellas Verona.
Although he briefly reunited with Pressley at Carlisle in 2019, Rooney believes that moving away from the familiar environment of Ewood Park to Fleetwood was pivotal in his development.
“I was thrown into the deep end; you either rise to the challenge or decide it’s not for you,” says the 34-year-old, who holds the League Managers Diploma and is pursuing the Uefa Pro Licence.
“I embraced the challenge, welcomed feedback, and committed to being the first in and the last out with the managers. The more effort you put in, the more you get out of it.
“These are the moments you work years for. I worked with Uwe—now the Aarhus manager, who faces Copenhagen next weekend—and I’ve reached out to him for a few insights.”
“I’ve had the chance to work with some top managers. While I’m still considered young in age, I bring 16-17 years of experience in the coaching world.
“I never thought about going abroad to work, but I worked here for 3 years because my wife was also there. She plays for Real Betis women [based in Seville, about 100 miles north of Gibraltar], so we’re settled and enjoying our time here.”
Magpies set their sights on making more history in Gibraltar
During his first tenure, Rooney led the Magpies to the Conference League qualifiers, but they were defeated by Belfast’s Crusaders, missing out on a chance to face FC Basel.
He stepped down in May 2023 after securing the Rock Cup—the club’s first piece of silverware—and finishing third in the Gibraltar Football League to qualify for European football once more, but he returned to the role last September.
Rooney and his team are now aiming to replicate the most significant achievement in Gibraltar club history, the Red Imps’ 1-0 victory over Celtic in 2016.
Copenhagen’s visit to Gibraltar isn’t their first; they defeated the Red Imps 4-0 during the Champions League group stage in the 2021-22 season.
A 3-2 aggregate victory over Derry City in the first qualifying round this month earned the Magpies their high-profile fixture, and Rooney is clear about its significance.
“It’s the biggest game in the club’s history. Will there be a bigger match for Bruno’s Magpies against Copenhagen in the future? Whether it happens during my tenure or someone else’s remains to be seen,” he says.
“Under Jacob Neestrup, Copenhagen reached the last 16 of the Champions League last season, marking their first appearance in that stage since the 2010-11 season.
They finished second in Group A, defeating Galatasaray and drawing at Bayern Munich, while also staging a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to beat Manchester United 4-3.
This leaves Rooney acutely aware of the challenge ahead, but it’s one they will approach with enthusiasm, regardless of the outcome Thapcamtv.
He adds: “Will they come here with a relaxed attitude or be determined to finish the job? Will they be focused on us or have one eye on their league fixtures? That’s a question we’ve considered. They have all the resources at their disposal, while we don’t.
“It’s a test of our mentality. Hopefully, we’ll be in good form and rise to the occasion.
“We seem to thrive in big games. This is another chance for us to make history. Whether through our performance or the result, we’re committed to doing it together.”