In December 2019, Christian Bragarnik joined the thought of acquiring a majority stake in Elche CF, aiming to maintain and advance the project as it stood.
At that time, Elche CF had a general manager, Patricia Rodríguez, and a sports director, Nico Rodríguez, whose roles continued to evolve. Soon after, both stepped away from the club’s franciverde operations, and Bragarnik assumed control over the broader Elche project, consolidating his leadership across the organization.
Over time, Bragarnik placed trusted figures in charge of various areas. Although not formally announced at first, his son-in-law, Pedro Schinocca, has acted as Managing Director for several months.
Jorge Raffo arrived to lead the team in the middle of the previous season, stepping into the base football operations. In the same period, a Bragarnik-appointed coach, Patrick “Duck” Graff, began to oversee the subsidiary’s management.
Argentina’s Jorge Raffo, new director of grassroots football at Elche
On the first team bench, the owner favored appointing an Argentinian coach. The absence of renewal was evidence of that preference. A previous attempt to hire Jorge Almirón had fallen through, followed by a second attempt with another Argentine candidate who did not materialize due to processing issues with his credentials. Recently, a different path succeeded with Sebastián Beccacece, who was able to take on the role after initial delays.
The only senior position still needed was sport director. While Bragarnik retained the final say, Sergio Mantecon carried out the duties as a club man until now.
New developments point to Mauro Óbolo joining as the head of sports operations, signaling Bragarnik’s move to close a complete circle within Elche.
Óbolo’s move from Argentina to Martínez Valero feels almost natural. Sources indicate that by the end of April he would assume his responsibilities to prepare for the next season. Óbolo has long been close to Bragarnik, representing him during his football days. He played as a striker and represented various Argentine teams, gaining experience in Chile, Europe, Sweden, Italy, and Spain, defending Burgundy’s jersey along the way.
After retiring from the pitch, Óbolo served as a representative for Score Club, a Bragarnik-owned entity, and later cut ties two years ago to focus on sports management at Belgrano of Córdoba. His performance in Argentine offices has been notable, guiding Belgrano to promotion from the Second to the First Division. Although a modest club from the southern region, Belgrano currently occupies a solid position in the Closing Tournament, a trajectory Bragarnik would like to mirror in Spain.
Mauro Óbolo has already announced plans to leave Belgrano, and multiple Argentine outlets anticipate confirmation of his move to Elche in the near future.
Recent reports suggest Bragarnik plans to place Argentines he trusts in leadership roles across the club, potentially reshaping the sports structure in the weeks ahead.
The future of Mantecon remains a key question.
Óbolo’s arrival is not expected to force an immediate change for Mantecón, who still holds a technical secretary contract for another year with the intention of continuing to develop the franciverde project. The hiring of an Argentine sports director appears to reflect the owner’s broader strategy to expand the scouting network and strengthen player development and monitoring.
Time will tell how Patricia Rodríguez and Nico Rodríguez adapt. They indicated they would renegotiate terms and soon depart the franciverde setup as part of the organizational reshaping.
As the week progressed, the club prepared for leadership transitions, with Bragarnik continuing to consolidate control while signaling a focus on sustainable growth and competitive performance in Spain’s football landscape.
The changes aim to strengthen Elche’s infrastructure, from management to on-field performance, aligning with Bragarnik’s long-term vision for the club’s development and resilience in a competitive environment.