Ruben Baraja returns to Valero once more next Sunday, stepping onto the field for the first time in the 2015-2016 season after a long period away. His previous work had centered on training at Valencia CF’s youth academy, and this new chapter marks a transition from youth development to the demanding role of guiding a senior squad on the touchline.
Valencia’s first-team efforts under a tense campaign were tested by relegation fears. The team hovered near the drop zone, with only a narrow margin separating them from safety. Almería, Cádiz, Getafe, and Valladolid stood as potential threats, while the gap to these clubs was measured in mere points. In such a scenario, precise decisions and a strong sense of resolve were required to claw back into a more secure position for the remainder of the season.
Baraja accepted the challenge when he joined Elche CF in the summer of 2015, a club then navigating serious administrative and sporting turmoil. The club faced the threat of relegation from the Primera Division, a situation that demanded immediate, clear leadership and steady planning.
Alongside him, sports director Ramon Planes assembled a squad rapidly, bringing in players like Javi Jiménez, Alex Martinez, Armando, Caro, Hugo Alvarez, Lolo, Jose Angel, Hugo Fraile, Ilie, Espinosa Mandi, Pelayo, Alvaro Gimenez, Eldin, and Hector Hernandez. The reinvigoration aimed to stabilize the squad and inject renewed energy into the bid for survival and progress.
The season featured standout performances from Sergio Leon, who claimed the Segunda Division’s top scorer award with 22 goals and earned a move to Osasuna for 1.7 million, stepping into another echelon of competition. This breakthrough underscored the impact a prolific striker can have on a rebuilding effort and highlighted the potential for Elche to leverage homegrown talent in early-stage development.
Alex Moreno, the dynamic midfielder who became known as the Vallecano lightning, also contributed significantly as he developed his game under Baraja. Moreno’s growth continued after a high-profile transfer to Aston Villa in January, a move valued at 13.5 million and a testament to Elche’s ability to cultivate players who could compete on bigger stages.
“We are a young team that needs patience”
Julian Palomar reflects on the situation, noting that Elche’s managers faced a grave institutional crisis and even the specter of dropping to the fifth tier. Yet during this difficult period, the team managed to secure a respectable campaign, finishing the season with 57 points and in 11th place in the league’s lower half with seven promotion hopefuls still in sight. The record showed 13 wins, 18 draws, and 11 losses, a balance that suggested potential for future growth even amid instability.
The Valladolid-born coach possessed defenders who provided a solid backbone, enabling a fast, proactive style against teams with diverse approaches. While some opponents questioned the coach’s ambitions during stretches of the campaign, the underlying structure spoke to a method aimed at sustainable improvement and resilience.
At the season’s end, Elche offered Baraja a renewal, yet he chose not to extend his contract, sensing that the project’s long-term trajectory and his own vision did not align. His decision reflected a commitment to integrity and honest assessment of the path forward, even as it meant leaving the club emotionally unsettled. Baraja later explained that staying would require a level of certainty about the project that did not feel right for him at the time. He emphasized that the choice was driven by a desire to place competitive balance and genuine development ahead of personal continuity, a stance taken with respect for the club’s history and ambitions.
Baraja’s leadership left a lasting impression on Elche, even as he prepared to move on. The club’s management and players carried forward the belief that a well-structured plan, coupled with belief in a shared project, would be essential to achieving a higher league status and sustained success. The coach’s departure was marked by a sense that the team had to pursue a future with renewed purpose and a deeper commitment to the collective goals of the organization.
The reflections on Baraja’s tenure at Elche underscore a broader narrative of football where a young squad, facing adversity, can still grow into a cohesive unit capable of competing at a higher level. The memories of the season are recalled with mixed emotions: pride in the players’ resilience, gratitude for the opportunity to lead, and an understanding that real progress requires patience, clear strategy, and a willingness to embrace challenging decisions for the sake of the club’s future.
As the season approached its milestones, many anticipated Baraja’s return to Valero with a sense of nostalgia. Even though his focus remained on Valencia, the past experiences at Elche provided him with a tough, enduring mindset that shaped his approach to management. Those who witnessed his time in charge remember a period defined by urgency, accountability, and a persistent belief in the capacity of a young team to grow into something greater than the sum of its parts. This was the kind of leadership that could influence not only results on the pitch but also the culture surrounding a club in transition. (Source: club archives)