fate gave Joventut d’Elx another chance, and the club is determined not to waste it. On July 18, the Royal Spanish Football Federation confirmed Elche’s place in the First Division. After a dip in the previous season, the team saw an opening created by changes at the University of Alicante and moved to the forefront of Spanish women’s futsal, aiming to stay firmly in the elite.
president Esther Menarguez has learned from past missteps and plans to lean into a more professional, demanding landscape. This coming campaign will demand a sharper approach, recognizing a category that has grown tougher to master and that requires greater commitment from coaching staff and players alike.
Joventut d’Elx undertook a complete overhaul of its roster and technical staff, naming ibense Freedom Married as head coach. His experience includes a stint in the men’s Second Division B with Ibi Futsal, and he previously coached Valencia Community’s Women’s U19 side, giving him a deep familiarity with many of the region’s young talents. “We have an opportunity and we will not waste it,” said Elche’s new coach, expressing excitement for the team’s first First Division fixture.
The new Joventut d’Elx will look markedly different from last season. Only a handful of players remain from the prior squad. Eli Lorenzo will embark on his fourth season with the team, joined by captain Judith Mateu and the energetic Lucia del Rio, known as “Peque.” Trina Ruiz, who played a key role during the 2020-21 promotion run, has moved up to the A team, signaling a broader, more committed squad structure.
Six new signings have already joined, reshaping the team’s target roster. Cecilia Moreno arrived from Jienense, coming via Córdoba Cajasur and Almagro; Anais Torres, Elche’s goalkeeper who was part of the historic promotion, returns after a stint with the goalkeeping ranks; Hercules St. Vincent and another forward joined as well, with Sellers providing additional depth. The club is cultivating a blend of local and incoming talent to boost performance in the league’s upper tier.
The two most notable signings are Aitana Benitez, a young international forward who has featured in Spain’s youth setups and previously played for the University of Alicante and Zaragoza Room, and Maite Utrillas, a winger returning home to Elche. Utrillas brings extensive experience from stints with Elche CF, Ourense, Xaloc Alacant, and Porto San Giorgio in Italy, strengthening the wings and offering breadth in attacking options.
The final two additions are international players who arrived to raise the team’s quality. Alexandra Skibina and María Vaskovets, both Ukrainian internationals, joined in March after relocating to Spain amid the conflict in their homeland. They completed the previous season with el Rodiles FS de Cantabria in the Second Division, and Joventut d’Elx pursued them carefully to reinforce the squad.
The squad remains a work in progress, with more signings anticipated as the club builds toward its objectives. “I am happy with what we have developed and the group feels like home for several players who have returned to Elche to be part of this new project,” said Esther Menárguez, underscoring the club’s optimistic path forward.
The club’s pre-season schedule began with a friendly against Beşiktaş, a familiar test against a strong opponent in the Women’s First League. Despite a 2-3 loss in that encounter, the teams displayed a competitive spirit, and the coaching staff saw tangible signs of improvement. Upcoming pre-season fixtures include a match at the Carrús pavilion, facing Zaragoza’s Sala; another strong test on August 27 at Carrús against Xaloc Alacant from the Second Division; and a final warm-up on September 3 with a visit from Leganes Sports Club, as the squad fine-tunes its tactics and fitness ahead of the league.
The league campaign is slated to begin on September 10 at the Poio Pescaner stadium in Galicia, with Elche’s home debut on September 17 against Rayo Majadahonda. The club’s goal remains simple: secure a permanent spot in the top flight. With thirty league games on the schedule and a robust, deeper bench, the team aims to deliver consistent results across a demanding season, visiting each arena with the ambition to compete for the best possible finish.
A notable shift in the club’s logistics this year is the move from Hope Delay pavilion to Zoilo Martin de la Sierra in Carrús. The new venue brings a different atmosphere, where fans sit closer to the action and the home-court environment can become a decisive factor in sustaining a position in Spain’s top tier for women’s futsal.
Carrús, a smaller hall with a close-knit crowd, is known for its intense atmosphere. Its intimate setting could prove pivotal in keeping Elche among the elite, especially as new players settle in and the team grows together on the court.
fate granted Joventut d’Elx another chance, and the club intends to make the most of it. With a strengthened squad, a renewed coaching team, and a clear focus on professional development, the club is poised to navigate a challenging season in Spain’s premier women’s futsal division. This is a time for bold choices and steady progress—an era in which Elche seeks to prove that resilience and teamwork can drive sustained success. [Attribution: Royal Spanish Football Federation and club announcements]
From Esperanza Lag to Carrús, the journey continues as the club adapts its home venue and builds a roster capable of competing at the highest level. The upcoming season is about more than just results; it is about establishing a lasting presence in the elite through dedication, strategic recruitment, and a shared belief in the project that began with a second chance and a new chapter for Joventut d’Elx.