Elche CF coach Francis Rodriguez traveled to Valencia this Monday for a scheduled opening act of the IV Trainer Course hosted by the Valencia Community Football Federation (FFCV). The Frangiverde technician attended the event alongside other notable figures from Spanish football, including representatives from Catholic University and Villarreal, Unai Emery, and Levante coach Mehdi Nafti. (Attribution: Valencia CF organization reports)
Francis outlined his early steps as a coach and recalled the path that led him to lead a team. He began with the Almeria Cadet ranks and soon discovered the importance of leadership and team building. He emphasized that a pivotal moment came at age 30 when he no longer saw a future in playing professionally. Instead, he embraced coaching a student team, which proved instrumental in developing group management skills. He added that those initial players remain part of his network today.
The Elche manager spoke about Emery as a foundational influence. He recalled how the Basque coach was a guiding figure during Emerys time at Lorca, and he traced a line from those early days to Emery’s later success with clubs such as Sevilla, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Spartak Moscow, and Villarreal. This lineage helped shape Rodriguezs coaching philosophy and approach to building competitive squads.
Francis also commented on the recent pre-season challenges faced by Elche, specifically noting how late transfers limited the teams preparation. He explained that these circumstances constrained the ability to implement ideas on the pitch. Despite the hurdles, he believes Elche’s current squad is capable of rising to the top, citing talent, work ethic, and the potential to consolidate the team’s tactical identity as the season progresses.