The only way out. Del Pozo remains steady. After two years at the helm of the technical secretariat, he did not pause to await a tough replacement bid. Segovian closes the second phase in blue and white, reinforcing the base, restoring daily calm to the institution, yet failing to meet its goals due to a misstep in bench management.
It is as challenging as steering through rough seas twice, with the second voyage in shallower waters. He contemplates a third year in Hercules, the well known as Caramel of the Well in Hercules. The sporting director handles many tasks effectively, notably while operating from Alicante in blue and white, though most of his work remains unseen by the public. The obvious, crystal clear matters looked wrong when examined from any angle.
Del Pozo: I don’t regret any decision of the last three weeks
Information sources note that the Segovian coach, who will reach 53 in July, exits his daily duties with head held high and a clear conscience, convinced that he has given his best, even when certain outcomes depended on factors beyond his control.
About a week after a meeting with Enrique Ortiz in the office, Carmelo, the man who had openly sought him out in 2020 to rescue Hercules from a period of weakness, finally reconnected with the owner after a brief exchange of views. Another decisive conversation was not possible, so Javier Portillo, while preparing the squad, led the blue and white side to end its employment relationship with the SAD on June 30, in a straightforward, noise-free manner.
Del Pozo did not secure any of the goals he had set to sign a new first team contract. The rest of his actions contributed to strengthening a club that has a habit of self-destructing. It is possible that Carmelo’s resignation claim stems from this reality. The division of responsibilities within Hercules’s sports district emphasized the work done, including the steady maintenance of the youth program and the club’s best-ever classification in recent times, alongside the promotion of the youth team to the Honors Division.
Those issues are not minor, but they are not sufficient on their own. A transfer call did not materialize either. The decision to abdicate to Barcelona, aligned with its owner, culminated in a late July €350,000 closure of a deal valued at two million, a move crystallized just hours before the summer market shut, leaving the Blaugrana to finalize the operation after the player stood firm.
Del Pozo under the microscope
Editorial notes indicate that breaking away from a team that operates correctly is not easy. The mistakes made are consequential. If they affect the team’s fate in competition, the consequences could be severe. Under Del Pozo, management decisions related to coaches and locker room leadership faced scrutiny. Handling players remains a nuanced affair, even when it is tied to statistics. Nevertheless, his market insight and ability to identify a compatible player and negotiate contracts without excessive cost stood out.
The dynamic is especially challenging for coaches. The former Hercules sporting director bore the distrust sparked by hasty team dismissals. The decision to bench Abde for eleven days, followed by a dismissal warning when the team sat second in the league, illustrates the volatility of the role.
This instability complicates replacement choices, from Alexander Esteve to the eventual Manolo Diaz, who struggled to gauge the squad’s true potential. The stance toward Sergio Mora became overly conservative and is viewed as a career setback in Alicante.
Del Pozo’s commitment to Hercules was evident, yet the sense of fatalism that accompanied his teams during both years in charge was palpable. A lot happened; almost everything that could go wrong did, and unlike fate, it felt unwinnable. No one can be blamed for the odds turning against them, and the chance of triumph in such conditions remains slim.
Chapter 9: Shoot or Tear
The only way out seems direct and resolute. Del Pozo has held a steady course, avoiding a wait for an external bid after two years at the technical helm. Segovian closes his second phase in blue and white, reinforcing the base and reintroducing daily stability, yet without achieving all the goals, compounded by a mismanaged bench situation.
As daunting as navigating a second crash in the same sea, with the second crash in shallower waters, he continues to reflect on a possible third year in Hercules. The sporting director handles many tasks well on his own in Alicante’s blue and white framework, though much of his work remains unseen to the public. The obvious and undeniable aspects of the leadership sometimes went wrong without explanation.
Del Pozo: I don’t regret any decision of the last three weeks
Despite this, the Segovian coach, now approaching 53, exits his day-to-day with a clear conscience and a strong sense of having given everything. He believes that what depends on him has been done well, even when outcomes did not align with his efforts.
One week after a meeting with Enrique Ortiz in the office, Carmelo, the man who sought his leadership back in 2020 to lift Hercules out of its lowest moment, was finally reunited with the owner after a brief exchange of views. A third episode of their dialogue was not feasible, so Javier Portillo, in setting up the squad, saw the blue and white bid farewell to the club under an orderly, understated exit on June 30.
Del Pozo did not achieve the targets he had set to secure a first team contract. The broader effort also helped strengthen a club with a history of internal fragility. Perhaps that explains Carmelo’s resignation claim, praising the work in the youth divisions and the notable performance in developing players while maintaining the current league status and elevating the youth team to new heights.
The issues are meaningful but not decisive on their own. There was no transfer call either. The abdication to Barcelona, aligned with its owner, closed late July at 350,000 euros for a transfer valued at two million. The move crystallized just before the summer market’s close, with the Blaugrana paying the price as the transfer window shut.
Del Pozo under the microscope
The team’s achievement in doing many things right should not be overshadowed by mistakes. The mistakes are meaningful, especially if they influence the team’s path in competition. In Hercules, Carmelo Del Pozo carried responsibility for coaching decisions and locker room leadership. Assessing players remains a tricky business, but his market acumen and ability to identify and sign valuable players without excessive cost were evident.
Coupled with the inherent challenges of managing technical staff, the role is fraught with distrust, born from rapid dismissals. The shift from one coach to another and the varying evaluations of players make replacements a complex puzzle. The pursuit of a balance between risk and reward continues to shape the club’s direction, as it moves forward from a period marked by high ambitions and tough lessons.
Chapter 9: Shoot or Tear
As events unfold, the narrative remains focused on the decisions and their consequences. The situation at Hercules reflects broader tensions in football management between vision, accountability, and the human factor that drives every training session and strategy meeting.