482 minutes. 7 matches. 5 ownership. This is the current background for the Hercules squad in the First Division. Among those currently in command of Ángel Rodríguez, only one footballer knows what it’s like to play in the Spanish elite. midfielder Sergio MarcosAnother historic player who managed to return to professional football last year is the ‘chosen player’ signed from Racing de Santander.
The talented 30-year-old Castilian-La Mancha footballer aims to repeat in Alicante the breakthrough he earned in Santander a year ago. In memory of seven games in the 2014-15 season, he arrived after a stint with Atlético de Madrid, where he earned recognition as part of Villarreal’s renowned youth system. He began his career at Vallecas. Marcelino García Toral gave him an early opportunity and kept him in the top eleven for five straight weeks. After the match against Rayo Vallecano came Eibar, Real Madrid, Celta and Almería. Even though the team dropped only the first game, he continued to see limited playing time, with appearances against Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao.
Next came moves to Lugo, Valladolid, and Cultural Leonesa in Part Two. The level of competition has dipped, yet those seven appearances remain vivid in the memory of fans who watched him perform at El Madrigal, the Bernabéu, and San Mamés. The stories formed in the Hercules locker room—now shaping the club’s criteria for a potential rise to the First RFEF—are the kind that fuel an aspiring squad.
None of the rest of Hercules’ current teammates debuted in Spain’s top flight. Raúl Ruiz, Marcelo Djaló and Maxi Ribero have reached top leagues in Cyprus, Portugal and Argentina, though those stints in the latter two leagues were brief compared to their time in Spain.
Seven more Heruclanos have reached the Segunda Division in their careers: Marcelo (79 games with Lugo and Extremadura), Harper (44 with Malaga, Alcorcón and Cartagena), Cristian Cedrés (27 with Las Palmas), Ander Vitoria (20 with Logroñés), Raúl Ruiz (10 during his first spell at Hercules), Felipe Chacartegui (9 with Sevilla Atlético) and Manu Navarro (1 with Rayo Vallecano). Others have their roots in the now-defunct Segunda B or the recently created First and Second RFEF levels.
The team’s limited experience at the elite level marks a historically low figure for the club, though that could change with upcoming signings that reshape the squad’s prospects.
Data from the latest templates
No modern Hercules squad has accumulated as few First Division appearances as this one. It stands as another sign of the club’s long slide toward the football catacombs after more than a decade outside the top flight.
In the 2021/22 season, Hercules players accumulated 92 appearances in the First Division, with Álex Martínez leading the tally at 31, followed by Acuña with 16, Tano with 11, plus José Manuel and Chuli with 9, Jesús Fernández with 9, and Mario Ortiz and Aketxe with 2 and 1 respectively. The previous season, 2020/21, reflected a similarly reduced figure, led by Álex Martínez with 86 appearances.
In 2019/20, Hercules reached 152 top-flight appearances, 125 of them in the First Division, thanks in part to Alfaro’s presence in the Blue and White. Other players contributing saw Olavide with 14, Falcón with 5, Diego Benito with 4, Íñiguez with 3, and Samuel with 1.
Looking back at 2018/19, the statistics show only 13 defining league duels. If the sports management of Hercules can lock in experienced players from the country’s best clubs, this season could mark a turning point. The team, coached by Lluís Planagumà, finished second in Segunda B Group 3 but did not gain promotion after losing to Ponferradina in the playoffs.
Notably, Paco Peña, who logged 128 First Division appearances, served as the club’s sporting director from 2009 to 2018. That continuity is now absent, making this season even more challenging for the Alicante squad as it seeks to rebuild credibility and on-field success after years of struggle.
Ultimately, Hercules faces a pivotal period. The club’s leadership and scouting must translate potential into on-pitch results, progressing through the ranks with a blend of youth and proven experience. The path forward requires pragmatic recruitment, smart development, and a steady climb back toward the competitive rhythm of Spain’s higher divisions.