Costa del Sol increase in popularity through the decade. This trend coincided with rapid industrial growth in Málaga and the decline of dependence on the agricultural sector, although growth in the general economy of Spain slowed almost to a standstill after 1973. As rapid development proceeded on the Costa del Sol, and the influx of expatriate retirees from northern European countries, notably Great Britain, increased during the late 1970s and 1980s, it has since then sometimes been referred to in the press of the United Kingdom as the "Costa del Crime", because British criminals would escape justice at home by moving there to
Trofeo Costa del Sol exception of 1981 and 1982 when it was interrupted due to La Rosaleda Stadium was being refurbished for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Nevertheless, CD Málaga financial problems resulted in the competition being discontinued in 1983. The Trofeo Costa del Sol was relaunched in 2004, having been held up to present days. Since the 2005 edition, only one team is invited to play local team. Some of the most notable players that attended the Trofeo Costa del Sol were Pelé (1967), Eusébio (1966), Alfredo Di Stéfano (1963), Johan Cruyff (1977), playing for their respective clubs. National teams such as Argentina