CD Eldense

Eldense

Full name	Club Deportivo Eldense
Nickname(s)	Deportivo, Azulgranas
Founded	17 September 1921 (17 September 1921)
Ground	Nuevo Pepico Amat, Elda, Valencia, Spain
Capacity	4,036
President	Pascual Pérez Castillo
Head coach	Fernando Estévez
League	Segunda División
2023–24	Segunda División, 16th of 22
Website	http://www.cdeldense.es/ Official website
Home colours Away colours

Club Deportivo Eldense is a Spanish football team based in Elda, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1921, the club plays in the Segunda División, and holds home matches at Estadio Municipal Nuevo Pepico Amat, which has a capacity of 4,036 spectators.

History

One of the oldest clubs in the Valencian Community, Eldense enrolled in the Valencian Football Federation in 1924, and started competing in Tercera División 19 years later. It first appeared in Segunda División in the 1956–57 season, narrowly avoiding relegation after finishing in 16th position; the first spell in that tier lasted three years, in a total of five at the professional level.

Match fixing allegations

On 4 April 2017, Eldense coach Filippo Vito di Pierro and general manager Nobile Capuani were arrested by Spanish authorities on charges of corruption. The detentions occurred after club president David Aguilar made complaints of match fixing following a 0–12 loss to Barcelona B, whilst Eldense player Cheikh Saad said that he had seen Aguilar arguing with di Pierro at half-time of the match, calling the latter a "scoundrel"; subsequently, the former asked La Liga president Javier Tebas to investigate those allegations.

Eldense temporarily suspended all sporting activities, also ending its contract with the Italian investment group represented by Capuani. They also released 12 players, with five people being arrested in connection with the events.

Three consecutive promotions

Eldense spent four years in Tercera División and were promoted to the new fourth level Segunda División RFEF in 2020-21 season due to restructuring of the Spanish football league system. On 28 May 2022, Eldense secured a second consecutive promotion to the new third level Primera Federación after beating Sestao River in the last playoff match. On 25 June 2023, Eldense secured promotion to Segunda División after a draw against Real Madrid Castilla. The play-off finished 4-4 on aggregate meaning Eldense went up due to after having a higher regular season finish. Eldense returned to the second tier after a 59-year absence and achieved three consecutive promotions.

Season to season

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1928–29 5 2ª Reg. 1st 1929–30 4 1ª Reg. 4th 1930–31 5 2ª Reg. 2nd 1931–32 5 2ª Reg. 4th 1932–33 5 2ª Reg. 1st 1933–34 5 2ª Reg. 1934–35 5 2ª Reg. 1935–36 5 2ª Reg. 1st 1939–40 5 1ª Reg. B 2nd 1940–41 4 1ª Reg. 5th 1941–42 3 1ª Reg. 1st 1942–43 3 1ª Reg. 1st 1943–44 3 3ª 2nd Third round 1944–45 3 3ª 6th 1945–46 3 3ª 7th 1946–47 3 3ª 6th 1947–48 3 3ª 5th Second round 1948–49 3 3ª 10th First round 1949–50 3 3ª 15th 1950–51 3 3ª 15th

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1951–52 DNP 1952–53 DNP 1953–54 3 3ª 8th 1954–55 3 3ª 2nd 1955–56 3 3ª 1st 1956–57 2 2ª 16th 1957–58 2 2ª 8th 1958–59 2 2ª 16th Round of 32 1959–60 3 3ª 7th 1960–61 3 3ª 4th 1961–62 3 3ª 1st 1962–63 2 2ª 7th Round of 32 1963–64 2 2ª 16th Round of 32 1964–65 3 3ª 4th 1965–66 3 3ª 1st 1966–67 3 3ª 1st 1967–68 3 3ª 2nd 1968–69 3 3ª 6th 1969–70 3 3ª 9th Fifth round 1970–71 4 1ª Reg. 1st

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1971–72 3 3ª 10th First round 1972–73 3 3ª 14th 1973–74 3 3ª 7th Second round 1974–75 3 3ª 4th Second round 1975–76 3 3ª 11th First round 1976–77 3 3ª 4th Third round 1977–78 3 2ª B 19th Third round 1978–79 4 3ª 1st First round 1979–80 3 2ª B 9th First round 1980–81 3 2ª B 20th First round 1981–82 4 3ª 4th 1982–83 4 3ª 1st Third round 1983–84 4 3ª 1st First round 1984–85 4 3ª 1st First round 1985–86 4 3ª 1st First round 1986–87 4 3ª 2nd Round of 16 1987–88 3 2ª B 13th Round of 32 1988–89 3 2ª B 5th Second round 1989–90 3 2ª B 16th 1990–91 3 2ª B 18th First round

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 1991–92 4 3ª 1st 1992–93 4 3ª 11th First round 1993–94 4 3ª 4th 1994–95 4 3ª 9th 1995–96 4 3ª 9th 1996–97 4 3ª 8th 1997–98 4 3ª 1st 1998–99 4 3ª 10th 1999–2000 4 3ª 5th 2000–01 4 3ª 9th 2001–02 4 3ª 5th 2002–03 4 3ª 11th 2003–04 4 3ª 8th 2004–05 4 3ª 3rd 2005–06 4 3ª 3rd 2006–07 3 2ª B 18th First round 2007–08 4 3ª 5th 2008–09 4 3ª 6th 2009–10 4 3ª 17th 2010–11 4 3ª 14th

Season Tier Division Place Copa del Rey 2011–12 4 3ª 14th 2012–13 4 3ª 10th 2013–14 4 3ª 1st 2014–15 3 2ª B 16th Second round 2015–16 3 2ª B 10th 2016–17 3 2ª B 20th 2017–18 4 3ª 5th 2018–19 4 3ª 9th 2019–20 4 3ª 6th 2020–21 4 3ª 1st 2021–22 4 2ª RFEF 4th First round 2022–23 3 1ª Fed. 2nd Round of 32 2023–24 2 2ª TBC

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• 6 seasons in Segunda División
• 1 season in Primera Federación
• 11 seasons in Segunda División B
• 1 season in Segunda División RFEF
• 59 seasons in Tercera División

Honours

• Tercera División: 1955–56, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1978–79, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1991–92, 1997–98, 2013–14

Current squad

As of 11 September 2023.

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	Guillermo Vallejo (4th captain)
2	DF	ESP	Toni Abad
3	DF	ESP	Álex Martínez
4	DF	BIH	Dario Đumić
5	DF	ESP	Piña
6	DF	ESP	Carlos Hernández (vice-captain)
7	FW	ROU	Florin Andone
8	MF	ESP	Sergio Ortuño
9	FW	ESP	Mario Soberón
10	MF	ESP	Cris Montes
11	FW	ESP	Juanto Ortuño (5th captain)
12	DF	BRA	Derick Poloni
13	GK	ESP	Andoni Zubiaurre
14	DF	ESP	Miguel Llambrich

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
15	MF	ESP	Miguel Marí
16	MF	MAR	Youness Lachhab
17	FW	ESP	Jesús Clemente
18	MF	ESP	Pedro Capó (captain)
19	FW	ESP	Joel Jorquera
20	FW	ESP	Iván Chapela
21	MF	ESP	Álex Bernal
22	MF	FRA	Marc-Olivier Doué
23	FW	ESP	Marc Mateu
24	MF	ESP	David Timor (3rd captain)
27	FW	ITA	Eddie Salcedo (on loan from Inter Milan)
29	FW	ESP	Arnau Ortiz (on loan from Girona)
30	GK	ESP	Luismi Quirant
31	GK	ESP	Álvaro Aceves (on loan from Valladolid)

Youth players

Main article: CD Eldense B

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	GK	ESP	Antonio Pina

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	Xavi Estacio (at San Fernando until 30 June 2024)
—	MF	ESP	Mario da Costa (at Atlético de Madrid B until 30 June 2024)

Famous players

Note: this list includes players that have played at least 100 league games and/or have reached international status.

• Roberto Orellana
• Francisco Alba
• Boni Amat
• Pepico Amat
• José Castroverde
• Coca
• Foncho
• Francisco Grande
• Gregorio López Miró
• Peque
• José Luis Ramírez
• Manuel Santiago
• Alfonso Silos
• Juan Villena
• Diego Bardanca

See also: Category:CD Eldense footballers

Reserve team

Eldense's reserve team, CD Eldense B, was founded in 1994 and plays in the Lliga Comunitat, which corresponds to the sixth tier. The B-team played their six initial seasons in the Segunda Regional before achieving promotion to the Primera Regional in 2000.

Inactive during the 2005–06 season after being relegated from the Primera Regional, Eldense B returned to the seventh tier in the following campaign, before again achieving promotion in 2009. Relegated in 2010, the club returned to Segunda Regional, and went inactive in 2013 after spending one year back in the Primera Regional.

Eldense B returned to an active status in 2017, in the Segunda Regional. The club achieved promotion to the Primera Regional in June 2021, and reached a first-ever promotion to the Regional Preferente on 29 May 2022.

A second reserve team named CD Eldense C also existed during the 2002–03 season, playing in Segunda Regional. The C-side also returned to an active status in 2021, and currently plays in Segona FFCV.

Current squad

As of 7 October 2023.

• Manager: Remi Beltrán

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	Luismi Quirant
2	DF	ESP	Martín Lillo
3	MF	ESP	Edu Calderón
4	DF	ESP	Adri Gran
5	DF	ESP	Alejandro Iniesta
6	FW	ESP	David Moreno
7	FW	ESP	David Lázaro
8	MF	ESP	Bryan de Castro
9	FW	ESP	Sergio Mullor
10	FW	ESP	Cristian García
11	FW	ESP	Manuel Rocamora
12	DF	ESP	Carlos Manrique

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
13	GK	ESP	Mario Pastor
14	DF	ESP	Antonio Plaza
15	MF	ESP	Iván Forte
16	MF	ESP	Javier Esteve
17	FW	ESP	Iván Richart
18	FW	ESP	Gabri Jimeno
19	MF	ESP	Edu Carratalá
20	FW	ESP	Cristian Martínez
21	FW	ESP	José Alfonso Campos
22	DF	ESP	Javi Rocamora
—	MF	ESP	Yiriba Coulibaly

From Eldense C

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

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	ESP	Antonio Pina

External links

• Official website (in Spanish)
• Futbolme team profile (in Spanish)
• Club & stadium history (in English)