Elche CF’s involvement in the LaLiga Promises Santander National Football-7 Tournament shines a light on the first team, the city, and especially the youth academy. The Franjiverde youth section will participate next weekend, marking the XXXI edition of the tournament organized by LaLiga in collaboration with the Jose Ramon de la Morena Foundation.
The event, which will be broadcast live on LaLiga Sports TV, LaLigaTV Bar, and LaLiga YouTube, kicks off this Friday. Grassroots teams from Villarreal Pamesa Ceramic Sports City will bring together twenty LaLiga Santander clubs for the opening round.
Elche is taking part in the tournament for the fifth time. The club first appeared in 2014 in Peru and then in 2015 at Villarreal, during a period when Elche was competing in Spain’s top division.
The last two editions were held in 2020 and 2021. The Roig family’s sponsorship through Pamesa cemented Castellón as the championship’s permanent venue.
Elche will field a 12-player squad called Elche. The Flame Project 2010 represents players born that year who have a major opportunity to showcase their talents and face emerging stars from Spain and abroad.
The squad includes goalkeepers Daniel Martínez Marín and Héctor Román. Defenders Ayan Mihai Grigore and Oliver Friis Madir. Midfielders Jesús Guardiola Rosado and Alejandro García Carcelén. The right winger Alfredo Miralles Ramírez and Hugo Eugenio Lorente. Left winger Felipe Herencia Vicente. Midfielder Ayoze Beranger. Strikers Hugo Rico Poveda and Diego Navarro Alonso.
Antonio Alarcón Asencio will be supported by the club’s youth football coordinator, Rubén Hernández Mula, with Fran Diez and Ferran Torregrosa Calabuig handling fitness and delegation duties.
Most players are part of the primary squad, though a few will also participate as stand-ins from other teams. In past editions, there was a selection of elite players from across the province, but this time everyone is drawn from the Franjiverde system.
Elche was grouped in Group A alongside Real Madrid, Real Betis, Getafe, and Deportivo Alavés. Elche opens against Madrid on Friday at 10:00 a.m. An hour later, at 11:00, Alavés faces them. In the afternoon, Getafe plays at 16:30 and Betis wraps up the group matches at 19:00.
Group B includes Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Osasuna, Mallorca, and Granada. Group C features Barcelona, the defending champions, plus Celtic, Vallecano, and another standout side. Group D groups Seville, Villarreal, Athletic Club, Real Sociedad, and Cádiz.
The Elche delegation departs for Villarreal the day before competition starts, hopeful of advancing to the knockout rounds by finishing top-two in their group. All players and staff will stay in the same hotel, promising an unforgettable experience.
Other competitions
Elche’s grassroots program will extend beyond Villarreal for the LaLiga Promises event. Throughout the weekend, Franjiverde will participate in additional matches across Spain, from younger age groups to the smallest categories, traveling to Cuenca, Albacete, Redován, and San Vicente.
The Cadet team will also travel to Bilbao for a Basque tournament featuring major clubs from across the country.
The overall aim of these competitions is to keep younger players engaged after the regular season ends, offering meaningful training and fun matches with peers their age, while avoiding a long summer without competition. Those who have already taken a break remain part of the youth or reserve squads that will start the next season ready to compete.