Months before learning he would not stay with Elche CF in the top tier, even if the club earned promotion, the owner Christian Bragarnik made a hard call by not renewing the contract. It felt like a blow to the club’s culture and to a man who had become a symbol for fans, players, and staff alike.
He had become an idol after guiding Elche from the lower reaches to the first division. His leadership earned trust and admiration across the board. The decision to back a return to the elite with Jorge Almirón as coach surprised many who followed the team closely.
The public announcement of the decision was delayed for days. Bragarnik’s move left Pacheta hopeful that a reconsideration might allow him to lead the team in the top division. In the end, the choice was final, and Pacheta had to search for another opportunity. Later, the owner admitted the move might have been handled differently.
On August 24, 2020, Martínez Valero hosted the last major celebration of promotion, a ceremony held under pandemic restrictions. He has returned to the city several times since, but the memory of the night remains vivid, and the longing to coach in the highest league lingers for him.
Since leaving, Sala de los Infantes’s coach did not close the door to a return to Elche and has faced the team twice, triumphing on both occasions.
In the first encounter of the 2020-2021 season, on the 30th matchday inside the El Alcoraz stadium, Elche faced a direct battle for survival against Huesca. Fran Escriba, another long-time Franjiverde favorite, oversaw a 3-1 defeat that day. Raphael Mir put Huesca ahead early, but Elche equalized soon after thanks to a deflected own goal. Sandro Ramirez and a 1988 penalty converted by Rafa Mir sealed the win for Huesca, leaving the home crowd inspired by a hard-fought result. The Franjiverde managed to save themselves only after defeating Athletic Bilbao on the final day, while Huesca failed to beat Valencia at home.
Pacheta returned to Elche’s bench on the 13th matchday of the season in Valladolid, taking charge of Burgos. The match ended 2-1 in favor of Burgos, with Javi Sánchez and Roque Mesa scoring for the home team while Josan closed the gap late in the game.
Pacheta is set to revisit Martínez Valero as his first opponent in the upcoming match. The Burgos coach will once again receive the affection of the green-and-white faithful, who view him as a club legend. He will appreciate the warmth while aiming to win as a professional manager.
Yet there remains a sense of ambivalence toward Bragarnik. The strong bond built with supporters and staff is tempered by the memory of that decisive moment, a reminder of the sting when a long-standing relationship is altered by executive decisions.
The coach is flanked by a legion of former Franjiverde figures who stay close as he begins this chapter with Valladolid.
In this new phase, Chema Monzón stands out as a trusted scout, analyst, and assistant who has long supported Elche and now travels with the Burgos group to Valladolid. Pacheta quickly recognized Monzón’s football intelligence and has continued to rely on him across squads.
Jorge Trigueros contributes to the physical training team, and Guillem Galmes handles the analyst role.
The Blanquivioleta squad includes several players who previously spent time with Elche, including Kike Perez and Lucas Olaza. Both arrived during the winter market last season and helped secure the team’s continuation at a higher level.
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Ivan Sanchez also spent three seasons at Martínez Valero, helping the team ascend from the second division to the first under Pacheta. His contract eventually expired and could not be renewed, leading him to new opportunities. He later joined Birmingham and, last season, featured for Burgos in Valladolid. He became a crucial figure in promotion and now features heavily in the Premier League this season.
In other cases, Sergio Leon and Luis Perez played for the reserve team and rose to be pivotal players, finishing second after Elche’s administrative relegation in the 2015-2016 season under Ruben Baraja. Perez’s later passing marked a heavy moment for the club as it faced relegation to the second tier in 2016-2017.
The Valladolid sports commission, along with sports director Fran Sánchez and Luis Casas as an assistant and Ivan Martinez known as Pachu working as a scout and analyst for rival teams, maintains a robust network around the club.
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Five survivors from Pacheta’s Elche era remain on the roster, forming a backbone for the club. Gonzalo Gutiérrez, Josan, Edgar Badía, Fidel, and Father Milla were part of the ascent to the second and first divisions, leaving a lasting imprint. The Catalan striker helped Edgar Badía reach new heights with his saves, while Fidel contributed assists that helped Propel promotion efforts, marking an enduring era in the club’s history.