Elche CF announced on Tuesday that the team will return to training, with Wednesday afternoon for time and location still to be determined. The club intends to place trust in a new coach who can replace Francisco, who was dismissed in the early hours after a 2-1 defeat to Rayo Vallecano.
The decision rests with the owner of the franchise, Christian Bragnik, who historically holds the final say in football matters.
Elche’s largest shareholder balances two paths: Argentina and Spain. His prior experience with Jorge Almirón did not yield the desired results, prompting a preference for a coach familiar with La Liga. As the season was about to begin, there was still time in mid November to prepare the squad. Bragnik’s advisers recommended selecting a Spanish coach who would require minimal adaptation time. The next match is Monday at 9:00, against Mallorca, a pivotal showdown that leaves no room for delay.
Since Francisco’s dismissal, several coaches have been linked with Elche. Among the frontrunners is Sebastian Beccace, a 41-year-old Argentine who is represented by Bragnik. Beccace previously worked with Defensa y Justicia, the Argentine club that won the 2021 Recopa and earned Bragnik’s support, having served as an assistant to Sampaoli with the Argentina national team. Beccace favors a defense-first approach yet also champions offensive football, and this could be his first foray into European and Spanish football.
Another potential option is Diego Coca. There is also the possibility that Diego Cocca, who recently parted ways with his club, could join the Argentina route. Cocca could bring experience from Liga MX and South American football, though he lacks previous experience in Spanish football.
Spanish coaches without current teams are also being considered. Jose Bordalás is a widely discussed name among Elche fans online and within the club. Bordalás, a former Elche manager, left Valencia after a difficult stint. However, this option appears complex given Bordalás’s recent performances with Getafe and Valencia and the fact that Elche sits in a precarious league position.
Javi Gracia also enters the conversation. He recently left Al-Sadd in Qatar and was previously linked with Escribá’s replacement last season, though he declined at the time. Gracia has also been associated with Sevilla and is keeping his options open while watching Elche from the outside.
Other possibilities on the Spanish side include Paco López. López is seen as a strong fit due to his knowledge of the club and La Liga. He was dismissed last season but remains well connected with the team. His rapport with players like Roger and Carlos Clerc stands out, and he has kept tabs on Elche’s matches, making him one of the first people the club contacted after Francisco’s departure.
Within the Spanish pool, candidates such as Sergi Barjuan, Javi López, and Vincent Moreno are also considered as alternatives who understand the pressure of lower-table battles. In the mix is also a potential surprise option who left Elche last season, Pablo Machín, who briefly agreed to return but ultimately stayed with Al-Raed in Saudi Arabia before the window closed. At the moment, Machín is not attached to any team.
The club weighs a broad spectrum of candidates. The challenge for whoever takes the reins is clear: stabilize results, implement a system that suits Elche’s squad, and deliver performances that shift the trajectory away from the relegation zone. A careful balance between immediate impact and long-term development will guide the decision in the days ahead as Elche looks to bounce back from a tense period of transitions.