Elche CF

History

Foundation and early years

Elche Club de Fútbol was founded in the winter 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. 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 Vicente Pahuet. 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.

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.

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 15 June at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the same city, brought a 0–1 loss to Athletic Bilbao.

After twelve seasons Elche were relegated to division two in 1971, having finished second from bottom. 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.

80s and 90s: severe financial crisis

After the relegation Elche suffered in 1978, 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) the dream of top flight promotion ended at the hands of Granada, on the away goals rule.

On 18 May 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. 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.

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.

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) 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.

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

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

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

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.

In the 2022–23 season, Elche were relegated to the second division after three years in La Liga.

In the 2024–25 season, Elche were promoted to La Liga.

Seasons

Season-by-season

• As Elche Football Club

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• As Elche Club de Fútbol

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• 25 seasons in La Liga
• 41 seasons in Segunda División
• 8 seasons in Segunda División B
• 19 seasons in Tercera División

Current squad

Reserve team

Main article: Elche CF Ilicitano

Out on loan

Coaching staff

Honours

Segunda División

• Winners: 1958–59, 2012–13

International players

• Andorra Marc Bernaus
• Argentina Juan Carlos Heredia
• Argentina Marcelo Trobbiani
• Argentina Willy Caballero
• Belgium Fernand Goyvaerts
• Cape Verde Garry Rodrigues
• Chile Enzo Roco
• Congo Dominique Malonga
• Croatia Mario Pašalić
• Denmark Tommy Christensen
• Denmark Nicki Bille Nielsen
• Equatorial Guinea Rodolfo Bodipo
• Equatorial Guinea Iván Bolado
• Ghana Richmond Boakye
• Ghana Wakaso
• Guinea Sory Kaba
• Honduras José Cardona
• Honduras Gilberto Yearwood
• Hungary Balázs Molnár
• Kosovo Elbasan Rashani
• Morocco Moha
• Nigeria Benedict Iroha
• Nigeria Francis Uzoho
• Norway Jan Berg
• Paraguay Roberto Acuña
• Paraguay Florencio Amarilla
• Paraguay José Aveiro
• Paraguay Juan Casco
• Paraguay Ramón Hicks
• Paraguay Juan Carlos Lezcano
• Paraguay Cayetano Ré
• Paraguay Derlis Soto
• Peru Germán Leguía
• Peru Juan Carlos Oblitas
• Poland Tomasz Frankowski
• Poland Antoni Łukasiewicz
• Poland Przemysław Tytoń
• Portugal Silas
• Romania Ioan Andone
• Romania Cristian Săpunaru
• Romania Dennis Şerban
• Serbia Albert Nadj
• Serbia Saša Petrović
• Spain Juan Manuel Asensi
• Spain Rubén Cano
• Spain Chancho
• Spain Fidel
• Spain Gonzalo Verdú
• Spain Josan
• Spain Carlos Muñoz
• Spain Javi Navarro
• Spain Nino
• Spain Jorge Otero
• Spain Marcial Pina
• Spain César Rodríguez
• Spain Hilario
• Spain Paraguay Eulogio Martínez
• Uruguay Fabián Coelho
• Uruguay Dagoberto Moll
• Uruguay Mario Saralegui
• Uruguay Tabaré Silva
• Venezuela Juan Carlos Socorro
• Venezuela Andrés Túñez
• Yugoslavia Goran Đorović
• Colombia Carlos Sánchez

Coaches

• Spain César (1959 – 30 June 1960)
• Spain Antonio Barrios (1 July 1960 – 6 February 1961)
• Brazil Otto Bumbel (1962–63)
• Paraguay Heriberto Herrera (1 July 1963 – 30 June 1964)
• Spain Rosendo Hernández (1964)
• Brazil Martim Francisco (1964–65)
• Brazil Otto Bumbel (1965–67)
• Argentina Spain Alfredo Di Stéfano (1 July 1967 – 8 January 1968)
• Czechoslovakia Ferdinand Daučík (1968)
• Uruguay Roque Máspoli (1 July 1968 – 31 December 1969)
• Spain Salvador Artigas (1970)
• Brazil Otto Bumbel (1970–71)
• Argentina Roque Olsen (1971–74)
• Argentina Néstor Rossi (1974–75)
• France Marcel Domingo (1975–76)
• Argentina Felipe Mesones (1976–77)
• Argentina Roque Olsen (1977–78)
• Paraguay Heriberto Herrera (1 July 1978 – 30 June 1979)
• Spain Arsenio Iglesias (1979–80)
• Spain Héctor Rial (1980)
• Argentina Felipe Mesones (1981–82)
• Spain Luis Cid (1982–83)
• Paraguay Cayetano Ré (1983–84)
• Spain Antonio Ruiz (1984)
• Argentina Roque Olsen (1984–85)
• Spain Delfín Álvarez (1986–87)
• Argentina Felipe Mesones (1987–88)
• Hungary Spain Czechoslovakia László Kubala (1988–89)
• Spain Luis Costa (1989)
• Spain Tomeu Llompart (1991–92)
• Spain Julián Rubio (1 July 1993 – 30 June 1994)
• Spain Quique Hernández (19 July 1994 – 30 June 1995)
• Argentina Felipe Mesones (1995–96)
• Spain Fabri (1996)
• Spain Marcial (1996–97)
• Spain Ciriaco Cano (1997–98)
• Spain Delfín Álvarez (1997–98)
• Argentina Jorge D'Alessandro (25 January 2000 – 30 June 2000)
• Argentina Felipe Mesones (2000)
• Spain Marcial (2000)
• Argentina Jorge D'Alessandro (21 December 2000 – 16 April 2001)
• Spain Marcial (2001)
• Spain Julián Rubio (1 July 2001 – 30 June 2003)
• Spain Carlos García Cantarero (2003)
• Argentina Oscar Ruggeri (22 December 2003 – 16 May 2004)
• Spain Josu Uribe (2004–06)
• Spain Julián Rubio (2006)
• Spain Luis García (1 July 2006 – 30 June 2007)
• Spain David Vidal (12 January 2007 – 12 October 2008)
• Spain Claudio Barragán (12 October 2008 – 4 October 2009)
• Spain José Bordalás (5 October 2009 – 8 April 2012)
• Spain César Ferrando (10 April 2012 – 30 June 2012)
• Spain Fran Escribá (1 July 2012 – 26 June 2015)
• Spain Rubén Baraja (12 July 2015 – 6 June 2016)
• Spain Alberto Toril (28 June 2016 – 29 April 2017)
• Spain Vicente Parras (29 April 2017 – 16 June 2017)
• Spain Vicente Mir (16 June 2017 – 13 November 2017)
• Argentina José Acciari (13 November 2017 – 21 November 2017)
• Spain Josico (21 November 2017 – 27 February 2018)
• Spain Pacheta (27 February 2018 – 26 August 2020)
• Argentina Jorge Almirón (26 August 2020 – 12 February 2021)
• Spain Fran Escribá (14 February 2021 – 21 November 2021)
• Spain Francisco (28 November 2021 – 4 October 2022)
• Argentina Jorge Almirón (12 October 2022 – 7 November 2022)
• Spain Pablo Machín (17 November 2022 – 20 March 2023)
• Argentina Sebastián Beccacece (27 March 2023 – 1 July 2024)
• Spain Eder Sarabia (2 July 2024 – )

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.

Rivalries

Elche CF and Hércules CF have been fierce rivals for a long time. Their rivalry, known as the Derbi de la provincia de Alicante, began way back in the 1925/26 season when Elche CF joined the official regional league.  Since then, these teams have clashed over a hundred times. The rivalry between Elche CF and Real Murcia CF is a historical one. Their first official match was during the 1928–29 season. Their frequent meetings, known as the Derbi del Sureste (Southeast Derby), make this fixture the most played in the history of the Segunda División.

Another of the most notable rivalries is with Levante UD. These teams have a long history of intense regional competition across various divisions, including Primera, Segunda, and Segunda B, creating a fierce atmosphere both on the pitch and in the stands. Elche CF's rivalries with Hércules and Real Murcia stem from regional proximity, while their rivalry with Levante developed over numerous competitive clashes. The rivalry with Granada CF ignited during the tense 2010-11 Segunda División season, culminating in the Play-off final.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

References

References

1. "Elche CF – History".
2. "ESTADIO MARTÍNEZ VALERO {{!".
3. "ESTADIO MARTÍNEZ VALERO {{!}} Elche".
4. "La historia del Club {{!}} Elche - Web Oficial".
5. "Spain, Final Tables 1959–1969".
6. [https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spanhist5969.html Spain 1963/64] {{Webarchive. link. (March 31, 2023 ; at RSSSF)
7. [https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup1969.html Spain – Cup 1969] {{Webarchive. link. (April 7, 2023 ; at RSSSF)
8. [https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spanhist6979.html Spain 1970/71] {{Webarchive. link. (February 10, 2023 ; at RSSSF)
9. [https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spanhist6979.html Spain 1977/78] {{Webarchive. link. (February 10, 2023 ; at RSSSF)
10. [http://www.infoexpres.es/s5837n115537-El-Elche-esta-en-la-final-contra-el-Granada-3-1.html El Elche está en la final contra el Granada (3–1) (Elche is in the final against Granada (3–1))] {{webarchive. link. (August 16, 2011 ; Info Expres, June 12, 2011 {{in lang). es
11. [http://www.rtve.es/deportes/20110618/granada-asciende-primera-costa-bravo-elche/441697.shtml El Granada asciende a Primera a costa del Elche (Granada promotes to ''Primera'' at Elche's expense)] {{Webarchive. link. (June 22, 2011 ; [[RTVE]], June 18, 2011 {{in lang). es
12. (May 18, 2013). "¡El Elche ya es de Primera!". [[Marca (newspaper).
13. "Ascenso del Elche en MARCA.com – Un líder de principio a fin".
14. "La afición del Elche, la tercera que más crece del mundo".
15. (June 5, 2015). "El Elche desciende a Segunda; el Eibar mantiene la categoría". El País.
16. "Jornada 42 de Segunda División, Temporada 2018/2019 - liga smartbank, segunda division, campeonato nacional de liga de segunda división, segunda division española, laliga 2 española".
17. (24 August 2020). "Elche win playoff to return to La Liga after long saga".
18. Menzies, John. (2023-05-02). "Elche's relegation to LaLiga2 confirmed after falling to defeat against Almeria".
19. "Elche promoted back to La Liga".
20. "Plantilla - Jugadores". Elche CF.
21. "HISTORIA {{!}} Hércules - Elche: 92 años de derbis".
22. Redacción. "Historia de los Elche-Real Murcia".
23. "Elche - Levante, vuelve una rivalidad histórica {{!}} Deporte Valenciano".
24. RODRÍGUEZ, FRAN. (2018-08-15). "Elche-Granada, historia de una rivalidad que nació en 2011".
25. Kantha, Sami. (2022-11-07). "99ok".
26. Hernández, Monserrate. (2022-11-07). "El Elche despide a Almirón y Mantecón toma el mando".