'The worst team in Europe?' Elche still winless at LaLiga's halfway stage in centenary season
It was supposed to be a year of celebration and growth. Elche CF were founded in 1922 and officially registered by the Valencian Football Federation in January 1923. For the club’s centenary, there were big plans.
After finishing 13th in their second season back in LaLiga last term, it was hoped that the team would consolidate their place in the top flight. In addition, the club launched a new corporate identity to globalise its brand and attract new audiences, with a number of stadium improvements also announced.
On January 10th, supporters’ groups gathered in the town for a toast and unveiled a banner. “The story of a feeling. The pride of an entire city,” it read.
But very few fans of Elche are proud of their team at the moment. Bottom of LaLiga with just six points from their 19 matches after a 3-0 defeat away to fellow strugglers Sevilla on Saturday, the Ilicitanos are one of only two clubs in Europe’s top five leagues without a win this season (the other is Cremonese in Serie A).
Elche have lost 13 and drawn six at the halfway stage, a return which leaves the club on course to post the lowest-ever points total in the history of the competition (Sporting Gijón registered just 13 points from 38 games in 1997-98, although they did win two matches).
Saturday’s loss at the Sánchez Pizjuán saw Elche equal their own 19 league games without a win from 1970-71 and failure to beat Villarreal at home next weekend will make this the worst run in the club’s history.
Earlier in the season, fans protested against refereeing decisions. In the 12th minute of their LaLiga match at home to Real Madrid in October, there was a delay as supporters held aloft banners with messages like “respect Elche” and “enough is enough” after a number of decisions had gone against them in the draws with Valencia and Mallorca (including two red cards and three penalties).
Ahead of the game against Real Madrid, Elche owner Christian Bragarnik (pictured below on the right) presented Karim Benzema with a special plaque following the French forward’s Ballon d’Or win and congratulated him in images posted on his Instagram account.
Bragarnik, an Argentine businessman and former footballer, bought a 90% share of Elche in 2019 and was initially liked by fans as the club returned to LaLiga and established itself in the top flight, with plans for further progression seemingly in place.
But the 51-year-old has been blamed for the poor squad planning which has led to the team’s current plight. He wrote an open letter to the fans in November saying he was “stronger than ever” and promised he would “make the best decisions to keep the club in LaLiga for many more years”.
Two months on, that seems unlikely and Bragarnik has not been seen since October. Fans have continued to protest against the Argentine, believed to be in his homeland, and his absence. “A boat is steered from the command post,” a recent banner read.
Meanwhile, a coaching change has brought little in the way of improvement, with the experienced Pablo Machín having picked up just two points from five games since taking over in November and also overseen Elche’s Copa del Rey exit at the hands of third-tier Ceuta.
On Friday, Machín snapped at a member of Elche’s media team during a press conference when there was a problem with the audio. “Even the microphones don’t work here,” he complained.
It was a comment which outlined the tension at Elche at the moment, with little sign of any squad strengthening before the transfer window closes this week and a gloomy outlook at the foot of LaLiga with no wins and only six points, 11 fewer than 17th-placed Getafe at the halfway stage.
“Are Elche the worst team in Europe?” local newspaper Información asked earlier this month. In the continent’s top five leagues, they are, statistically speaking. Needless to say, the centenary celebrations are very much on hold.