Elche CF

Elche

Full name	Elche Club de Fútbol, S.A.D.
Nickname(s)	Los Franjiverdes / Els frangiverds (The Green-striped ones) Los Ilicitanos / Els Ilicitans (The Ones from Elche)
Founded	1923 (1923)[1]
Ground	Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero
Capacity	33,732[2]
Owner	Christian Bragarnik
President	Joaquín Buitrago Marhuenda
Head coach	Fran Escribá
League	La Liga
2020–21	La Liga, 17th of 20
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Elche Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. (Valencian: Elx Club de Futbol, S.A.D.), is a Spanish football team based in Elche, Province of Alicante, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1923, the club plays in La Liga, holding home matches at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, with a capacity of 33,732 seats.^[3]

Founded in 1923 as the result of a merger between all of the town's clubs, Elche entered the league system in 1929, reaching Segunda División in 1934 and La Liga in 1959, finishing fifth in the latter tournament in 1963–64. The club were runners-up in the Copa del Rey in 1969. Elche became the first and only club in the history of La Liga to be relegated due to unpaid tax debts in the 2014–15 season. Elche returned to La Liga in 2020–21 after being promoted to the Segunda División and then La Liga in only three seasons.

History

Foundation and early years

Elche Club de Fútbol was founded in the summer of 1923, after the merger of all of the town's football teams. The club's first-ever game was against Monóvar, where they beat the home team 4–0, and its first official match was a 2–0 win over Crevillente. In its first years Elche, like many teams of the time, played in an all white uniform.^[4] The team played its first league season in 1929–30, in the Tercera División, achieving promotion to the Segunda División in 1934. However, Elche suffered relegation for the first time six years later, but were promoted back the following season.

In the late 1950s, Elche achieved two consecutive promotions from the third level to La Liga, securing the club’s first promotion to the latter competition with a 3–0 success against Tenerife in 1959.

1959–78: La Liga

Elche opened its first season in the top level with a 1–1 draw against Real Oviedo, the first goal being scored by . The club finished tenth out of 16 sides, nine points ahead of relegated Osasuna – the campaign included a 2–1 comeback home victory over Barcelona, but also a 2–11 loss at Real Madrid. The following season saw the team having to compete in the relegation/promotion play-off, where it overcame a 0–1 loss in the away leg against Atlético Ceuta with a 4–0 home victory.^[5]

Elche achieved their best-ever league finish in 1963–64, ranking in fifth position. The season also saw the club's reserve team, Elche Ilicitano, promote to Segunda División.^[6]

In 1969 the club reached their first and only Copa del Rey final, following victories over Pontevedra, Valencia and Real Sociedad. The semi-final against the latter was won 2–0 in a replay in neutral Madrid, as the tie had finished 4–4 on aggregate; the final, played on June 15 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the same city, brought a 0–1 loss to Athletic Bilbao.^[7]

After twelve seasons Elche were relegated to division two in 1971, having finished second from bottom.^[8] Two years later the team returned to the main category, as champions. Its second spell in the top flight lasted five seasons, often immerse in relegation fights as the best campaign (1974–75) ended with the club in eighth position; at the end of 1977–78 the side returned to the second division after finishing 17th out of 18 clubs, the last game being a 4–4 draw with Atlético Madrid, which was led 2–4 with five minutes remaining.^[9]

80s and 90s: severe financial crisis

After the relegation in 1978 Elche suffered. Although on paper they had a good team they never managed to gain promotion to the top flight – in fact, in the first five years since their return to the second level, they were fourth on three occasions and fifth on two (and on a further two, even on points with the third-placed team but with a worse goal difference), often losing the chance of promotion on the last matchday. Especially traumatic was the finish of the 1980–81 season: with one game remaining, they were second two points ahead of Rayo Vallecano and Racing de Santander, only needing a draw against Cádiz at the Martínez Valero; the game ended however in a loss, and Elche finished with 45 points alongside Castellón, Cádiz, Racing and Rayo.

A promotion finally occurred at the end of 1983–84, even though Elche only finished fifth in the regular season – the first two positions were occupied by Real Madrid Castilla and Athletic Bilbao B, who could not promote as reserve sides. The whole of the top division campaign was spent in the relegation zone, and relegation consequently befell as 17th. In 1988 they were promoted again for another cameo appearance, as the side went on to finish dead last with eighteen points, dropping down a category alongside Real Murcia, who they trailed by nine points; the last match for years in the category was a 1–3 away loss against Real Zaragoza, the goal coming courtesy of Alfonso Fernández.

After the relegation in 1989, Elche started to suffer heavily in the financial department, and relegated to Segunda División B – the new third level created in 1977 – at the end of 1990–91. During the better part of the 1990s the club reached the second division promotion playoffs, only to consecutively fall short.

In 1997 Elche finally managed to return to the second category, being immediately relegated back but gaining another promotion subsequently.

2010s: return to the top flight

In 2010–11, again in the "silver category", the team finished fourth and thus qualified for the play-offs: after disposing of Real Valladolid in the first round (3–2 on aggregate)^[10] the dream of top flight promotion ended at the hands of Granada, on the away goals rule.^[11]

On May 18, 2013, following Barcelona B and Alcorcón's 1–1 draw, Elche was automatically promoted to the top level, returning to the competition after 24 years.^[12] In the meantime the team coached by Fran Escribá had broken a number of Segunda División records, being the only team to date able to lead the competition from the first until the last match of the season, setting in the process a new record of both matches won and points scored to date as well as the best first round in the history of Segunda's championship.^[13]

During the 2013–14 season, the team managed to keep in the top competition, with an average attendance to home matches estimated at 25,104 people.^[14]

In the 2014–15 season, despite managing once again to keep in the top flight (the team was already safe from relegation four dates before the end of the competition^[15]) Elche became the first team ever in the history of the Spanish Primera División being relegated to Segunda following new regulations by the Spanish football league limiting excess debt and economic mismanagement.^[15]

In the 2016–17 season, Elche were relegated to third level after 18 years in professional league.

One year later, Elche promoted back to second level after defeating Villarreal B in the last play off promotion to second level.

In the 2018–19 season, Elche finished right in the middle, on 11th place among 22 teams.^[16]

In the 2019–20 season, Elche were promoted to La Liga by beating Girona in the promotion play-off final 1-0 on aggregate. They were promoted back to La Liga after five years in the second and third divisions.^[17]

Seasons

Season to season

• As Elche Football Club

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1929–30 3 3ª 2nd Did Not Play 1931–32 3 3ª 5th DNP 1932–33 3 3ª 2nd DNP 1933–34 3 3ª 2nd DNP 1934–35 2 2ª 4th Sixth round 1935–36 2 2ª 8th First round 1939–40 2 2ª 7th DNP

• As Elche Club de Fútbol

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1940–41 3 3ª 1st Second round 1941–42 2 2ª 6th First round 1942–43 2 2ª 6th DNP 1943–44 3 3ª 1st DNP 1944–45 3 3ª 1st DNP 1945–46 3 3ª 2nd DNP 1946–47 3 3ª 2nd DNP 1947–48 3 3ª 1st Third round 1948–49 3 3ª 2nd Second round 1949–50 2 2ª 14th First round 1950–51 3 3ª 6th DNP 1951–52 3 3ª 13th DNP 1952–53 3 3ª 16th DNP 1953–54 3 3ª 3rd DNP 1954–55 3 3ª 1st DNP 1955–56 3 3ª 3rd DNP 1956–57 3 3ª 1st DNP 1957–58 3 3ª 1st DNP 1958–59 2 2ª 1st Round of 32 1959–60 1 1ª 10th Semi-finals

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1960–61 1 1ª 14th Round of 32 1961–62 1 1ª 8th Round of 16 1962–63 1 1ª 8th Round of 16 1963–64 1 1ª 5th Round of 32 1964–65 1 1ª 8th Round of 32 1965–66 1 1ª 6th Quarter-finals 1966–67 1 1ª 9th Semi-finals 1967–68 1 1ª 11th Quarter-finals 1968–69 1 1ª 9th Runner-up 1969–70 1 1ª 11th Round of 32 1970–71 1 1ª 15th Round of 16 1971–72 2 2ª 4th Fourth round 1972–73 2 2ª 2nd Fourth round 1973–74 1 1ª 14th Round of 32 1974–75 1 1ª 8th Fourth round 1975–76 1 1ª 15th Round of 32 1976–77 1 1ª 11th Round of 16 1977–78 1 1ª 17th Third round 1978–79 2 2ª 5th Round of 16 1979–80 2 2ª 4th Fifth round

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1980–81 2 2ª 4th Third round 1981–82 2 2ª 4th Round of 16 1982–83 2 2ª 7th Third round 1983–84 2 2ª 5th Second round 1984–85 1 1ª 17th Second round 1985–86 2 2ª 4th Second round 1986–87 2 2ª 4th First round 1987–88 2 2ª 2nd Round of 32 1988–89 1 1ª 20th Round of 32 1989–90 2 2ª 14th Second round 1990–91 2 2ª 17th Round of 16 1991–92 3 2ª B 4th Second round 1992–93 3 2ª B 3rd Second round 1993–94 3 2ª B 12th Fourth round 1994–95 3 2ª B 6th First round 1995–96 3 2ª B 3rd First round 1996–97 3 2ª B 2nd First round 1997–98 2 2ª 19th Second round 1998–99 3 2ª B 3rd Second round 1999–2000 2 2ª 15th Prelim. round

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 2000–01 2 2ª 18th Round of 64 2001–02 2 2ª 5th Round of 64 2002–03 2 2ª 16th Round of 64 2003–04 2 2ª 14th Round of 64 2004–05 2 2ª 10th Round of 16 2005–06 2 2ª 14th First round 2006–07 2 2ª 10th Third round 2007–08 2 2ª 10th Round of 32 2008–09 2 2ª 12th Round of 32 2009–10 2 2ª 6th Second round 2010–11 2 2ª 4th Third round 2011–12 2 2ª 11th Third round 2012–13 2 2ª 1st Second round 2013–14 1 1ª 16th Round of 32 2014–15 1 1ª 13th Round of 16 2015–16 2 2ª 11th Second round 2016–17 2 2ª 21st Third round 2017–18 3 2ª B 3rd Round of 32 2018–19 2 2ª 11th Third round 2019–20 2 2ª 6th Round of 32

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 2020–21 1 1ª 17th Round of 32 2021–22 1 1ª

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• 23 seasons in La Liga
• 39 seasons in Segunda División
• 8 seasons in Segunda División B
• 19 seasons in Tercera División

Current squad

As of 9 September 2021.^[18]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ESP Kiko Casilla (on loan from Leeds United) 2 MF  ESP Gerard Gumbau 3 DF  CHI Enzo Roco 4 DF  ESP Diego González 5 DF  ESP Gonzalo Verdú (3rd captain) 6 DF  ESP Pedro Bigas 7 FW  ARG Guido Carrillo 8 MF  ESP Raúl Guti 9 FW  ARG Lucas Boyé 10 FW  ESP Pere Milla 11 MF  ESP Tete Morente 12 FW  ESP Lucas Pérez 13 GK  ESP Édgar Badía 14 DF  COL Helibelton Palacios

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 MF  ARG Javier Pastore 16 MF  ESP Fidel 17 MF  ESP Josan 18 FW  ARG Darío Benedetto (on loan from Marseille) 19 DF  ESP Antonio Barragán 20 MF  ARG Pablo Piatti 21 MF  ESP Omar Mascarell 22 DF  COL Johan Mojica 23 MF  ARG Iván Marcone 24 DF  ESP Josema 25 GK  ARG Axel Werner 28 GK  ESP 33 MF  ESP Jony Álamo

Reserve team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 26 MF  ESP John Nwankwo 29 FW  ESP Diego Bri

No. Pos. Nation Player 30 MF  ESP

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  ESP José Salinas (at Unionistas de Salamanca until 30 June 2022) — FW  ESP (at Racing Santander until 30 June 2022)

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  MAR Mourad El Ghezouani (at Alcoyano until 30 June 2022)

Coaching staff

Position	Staff
Head coach	Fran Escribá
Assistant coach	David Generelo
Fitness coach	Miguel Villagrasa
Fitness coach	Manuel Sempere
Fitness coach	Fidel
Goalkeeping coach	Miguel Escalona

Honours

Segunda División

• Winners: 1958–59, 2012–13

Copa del Rey

• Runners-up: 1969

International players

Marc Bernaus Juan Carlos Heredia Marcelo Trobbiani Fernand Goyvaerts Garry Rodrigues Enzo Roco Dominique Malonga Mario Pašalić Tommy Christensen Nicki Bille Nielsen Rodolfo Bodipo Iván Bolado Richmond Boakye Wakaso Sory Kaba José Cardona

Gilberto Yearwood Balázs Molnár Moha Benedict Iroha Francis Uzoho Jan Berg Roberto Acuña Florencio Amarilla José Aveiro Juan Casco Ramón Hicks Cayetano Ré Derlis Soto Germán Leguía Juan Carlos Oblitas

Tomasz Frankowski Antoni Łukasiewicz Przemysław Tytoń Silas Ioan Andone Cristian Săpunaru Dennis Şerban Albert Nadj Saša Petrović Juan Manuel Asensi Rubén Cano Fidel Gonzalo Verdú Josan Carlos Muñoz

Javi Navarro Nino Jorge Otero Marcial Pina César Rodríguez Hilario Eulogio Martínez Fabián Coelho Dagoberto Moll Mario Saralegui Tabaré Silva Juan Carlos Socorro Andrés Túñez Goran Đorović Carlos Sánchez

Coaches

Reserve team

Elche's reserve team, Elche Ilicitano, was founded in 1932. It managed to spend two seasons in the second division, when the main squad was in the top flight.

See also

• Trofeo Festa d'Elx

References

External links

• Official website (in Spanish)
• Futbolme team profile (in Spanish)
• BDFutbol team profile