The limited competition on the field gave Elche its backbone in the Second Division. Yet Sporting endured a season marked by international consolidation. Social networks emerged as the main driver of this shift. In less than a year, from June 2022 to today, Elche has quadrupled its online presence.
According to official sources, social media followers rose from 850,000 at the end of the previous campaign to 3.6 million now. This growth has become a central catalyst for Elche CF’s global social expansion, proving how digital reach can translate into broader popularity and engagement.
Evolution occurred during a year of heavy content challenges. The on-field status did not always align with the promotional messaging. The club reduced posting frequency after defeats to avoid sending the wrong signals.
Bell
Elche won only three matches in the season, leaving fans with little to cheer. One bright moment came with the win over Villarreal at Martinez Valero. The crowd responded with a hopeful chant, Yes we can, even if belief was tentative. A video showing players embracing fans, revealing faces as in tougher times, became one of the most watched clips of the year.
That moment happened on February 4. In that month, the sports media outlet Sports & Finance reported that Elche CF had become the third most popular club in Spain with 21.8 million views on TikTok, trailing only Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. It was a standout incident, not repeated, but it clearly highlighted the surge of the club’s social footprint in the months prior.
Despite relegation, Elche supporters kept the party going
Elche CF had a spirited response from its fans and their communities, even in challenging times.
mainnets
Club information shows Facebook and the newly launched TikTok as the two networks with the strongest growth. Facebook helped Elche establish a broad regional presence among Latin American, African, and Arab audiences. TikTok connected with younger fans and has become the team’s most relevant network due to its appeal to a newer generation. Elche CF now has more followers on TikTok than many Premier League, Bundesliga, and Serie A clubs.
The club also notes strong influence in countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Mexico and Argentina.
This growth is mirrored in the creation and strengthening of content in women’s football and community outreach, delivering quality content across the club and its channels. That momentum contributed to high total viewership across Elche networks.
Elche CF’s Centennial Anniversary also featured notable moments that, while imperfect, fed into a year of intense public engagement. The club invested in its city and media presence, earning recognition such as a Gold Medal from the city of Elche. Fans and fan clubs became closer to the team through their federation and online communities.
own media
Elche currently reaches a broad audience across its social profiles: Twitter around 285,000 followers, LinkedIn about 5,000, YouTube roughly 13,000, Instagram about 191,000, Facebook near one million, and TikTok around two million. Each platform targets specific audiences, with some overlap among users. The six channels supported by Elche’s communications team cover everything from press conferences to apparel promotions, from ticket offers to match photos.
The club also runs a newsletter service to share match tickets, official announcements, and promotions with subscribers.
All of these channels help fans connect more closely with players and the team. In recent years, social networks have helped Elche become a global reference in football.
Elche’s public presentation featured notable figures from the club’s media and history.
Driving a spherical star
Javier Pastore’s time with Elche included a brief spell with limited appearances and no goals or assists. He showcased his class in brief bursts, contributing to a broader reach for the club beyond its borders. His career with top clubs and national teams added to the club’s international profile, and followers of Elche grew as a result. Pastore’s presence attracted significant attention on Facebook and Instagram, with millions of followers across the platforms.