Elche Faces a Medical Leadership Gap and Its Impact on Player Care
The prominent football club confronted an unexpected challenge: a month-long vacancy in its medical leadership, a situation once thought unlikely but now real. Elche, following the departure of its head of health services, Dr. César Quesada, who had served the club for eleven years, started mid-August without a permanent medical director. The absence of a chief doctor inevitably influences on-field decisions and daily player care, a point the coach highlighted during a recent press gathering.
The medical and training staff were left to navigate health concerns in an interim period. The coach noted that players who had missed training due to illness the day before were able to join the practice session, with hopes they would participate again soon, provided fatigue did not linger. Without a dedicated team doctor to assess matters, uncertainties persisted among staff and reporters alike.
Further updates indicated that Omar Mascarell would be unavailable for a period due to ongoing discomfort. The coaching staff stressed that injury decisions had to be made with care, especially in the absence of routine clinical oversight. Questions emerged about whether the coaching team alone should determine injury management without the usual medical input.
Another topic centered on Pool Lirola, who took a knock in training. The medical and physiotherapy teams were monitoring his condition to decide if he could participate in the next session. The core issue remained: when medical judgment is temporarily unavailable, how are physical assessments and return-to-play plans affected?
Reports also highlighted Mascarell’s persistent efforts over several weeks, with the status still uncertain. There was concern about whether the club would secure a medical director soon to provide definitive guidance on such cases and to remove ambiguity from treatment decisions.
The club continued its search for a medical director with the right profile. Elche maintains two doctors, one focused on training sessions and another on matchdays. It also has an arrangement with Vinalopó Hospital, offering nursing support when needed and access to advanced health technologies and diagnostics. A large team of physiotherapists, a dedicated physical trainer, and a nutritionist round out the medical support available to players.
César Quesada stated he would keep collaborating with the club and with the incoming medical lead during the transition. The search included names such as Pedro Luis Ripoll and Mariano de Prado, illustrating broad outreach to well-regarded professionals within Spanish football. The club also operates a clinic on the ground floor of the Martínez Valero stadium as part of its health network.
As of late August, discussions continued among ownership and management about arrangements and the eventual appointment of a new chief medical officer. While a direct resolution had not been announced, the club emphasized it would maintain daily player care through its existing medical team and the hospital partnership, with a steady focus on ensuring consistent care during training and matches.
The Franciverde club underscored its commitment to a seamless medical program, noting that elite-level football requires constant access to medical leadership for players on a daily basis. In the interim, Paulino Vázquez assisted during matches, while another unnamed doctor was set to handle daily training, ensuring ongoing attention to player health and readiness.
Ultimately, Elche aims to stabilize its medical staff to support players as the season progresses. The club has expressed a clear goal: secure a medical director who can provide consistent, high-quality care and clear protocols for injury management, rehabilitation, and return-to-play decisions. The arrangement with Vinalopó Hospital and the broad medical team remain central to safeguarding player welfare as the search continues.
In summary, Elche navigates a temporary leadership gap with a robust medical framework in place, while actively pursuing a permanent chief medical officer who can sustain the club’s health standards and keep the squad in peak condition through every training session and match.