Fidel Chavez marks his seventh season with Elche, his fifth straight year since returning. He joined the club as a 23-year-old in 2012 for a historic ascent to the Major League. By 2019 he already carried himself with the poise of a veteran. In 2023/24 he faces a pivotal moment, aiming for another climb to the top flight even after relegation. This chapter could be especially meaningful.
Fidel and Edgar Badia lead Elche, with Gonzalo Verdú stepping aside
JA Galvanized
In this new phase, Fidel becomes the team’s first captain following a potential change in leadership. Gonzalo Verdú had worn the armband in recent seasons, but the Huelva-born player has long worn captaincy with frequent appearances. Now, he will shoulder the responsibility of steering the locker room as the most experienced voice among the players.
Franjiverde fans will note a historic challenge ahead: if Fidel reaches promotion, he would become the first Elche player in the club’s century-long history to reach the top division three times. A decade after his initial success, Fidel still has the talent to add more pages to Elche’s record books.
In 2012/13, Fidel was part of Elche’s famous squad known as the “Elche of Records,” a group that helped the city celebrate a return to the Major League after a long absence. He played a pivotal role, appearing in 40 matches and scoring four goals. After stints with Córdoba, Almería, and Las Palmas in 2019/20, he returned to what many consider his footballing home. His performances dispelled doubts: 38 matches and nine goals.
Fidel: “Nobody should doubt that Elche will return to the First Division”
JA Galvanized
During his time with Elche, Fidel has accumulated 217 official appearances and 30 goals. If injuries allow, he could rise into the top ten among players who have worn the green armband most often. More importantly, he faces the chance to become the only player to celebrate promotion to the highest league three times.
Paired with three other players
Currently Fidel stands tied with three other players who have achieved two promotions to the elite: Felix Palomares, Miguel Recio, and Boria. The Campellero midfielder achieved this feat in 1973 and 1984, though his playing time was limited in both campaigns. He was often too young in one era and hampered by injuries in the other.
The Málaga goalkeeper and the forward from Matola shared promotions in 1984 and 1988 and played key roles in their coach’s plans. Miguel was the first-choice goalkeeper in both seasons, while Boria finished as the top scorer in the 1983/84 season with 13 goals. In the second season, he faced competition from Claudio and Sixto.
On the bench, none of the coaches managed to lift Elche to the top flight three times. Roque Olsen earned the honor twice, in 1972/73 and 1983/84. In the latter, he stepped in mid-season to replace the incumbent Cayetano Ré.
A challenge ahead
With the captain’s armband and a clear timeline, Fidel has begun preparing to erase last year’s disappointment both as a team and as an individual.
Although the season closed on a strong note, it was no secret that Sebastián Beccacece faced criticism for the team’s performance in 2022/23, which ended in relegation. There is a strong desire to restore Elche’s image and push for a return to the top tier in the near future.
Fidel endured a difficult first half of the season due to injuries. His consistency was tested, and at times there seemed little he could do to change the course. After delivering three high-level campaigns and a notable shift from winger to a leading role, he endured his toughest stretch as a Franjiverde captain.
After two promotions to the First Division and three spells in the elite, Elche looks to Fidel to rebound and guide the club back to the top division. If anyone knows the path, it is him—an accomplished Andalusian footballer who has proven his leadership before.