Failure can sharpen a club’s soul, reminding everyone what it values most. For Hercules, resilience is a daily discipline that shapes every step along the journey. The blue and white emblem remains a steadfast symbol of a project that has weathered far more than anyone anticipated, and the drive to reclaim a rightful place in professional football persists with stubborn resolve.
Ten years ago, June 2012 sparked a rare glimmer of hope for Hercules. Under the guidance of Juan Carlos Mandiá, the club finished fifth and earned a shot at promotion to the First Division. Four wins stood between them and the top tier—a handful of decisive moments that could have altered the story. Yet the dream was tempered by heartbreak as they were eliminated by Alcorcón, with tightly contested ties underscoring the fragility of a run and the cost of a misstep.
That summer brought a bold plan to push forward. Early momentum suggested progress, but the campaign soon revealed fragility. A slow start set a difficult tone, and the anticipated ascent never materialized. In the following year, the team drifted further from the objective, and professional status slipped away. By 2022, restructuring within non-professional tiers deepened the setback, and Hercules found itself rooted in the Second RFEF.
Enrique Ortiz’s leadership at that moment prompted a far more radical shift than anyone anticipated. Mistakes and misjudgments tested fan faith like never before. The sports director rotated, Carmelo del Pozo stepped aside, and Paco Peña stepped in, with Ángel Rodríguez guiding the bench. The new era carried heavy expectations and a clear commitment that fresh ideas could unlock progress for a club with a storied past.
From there the project began to take shape for the 2022/23 season. The club returned to the First RFEF via promotion alongside Pontevedra, and the squad started to feel like a unit crafted in Rodríguez’s image. The emphasis shifted from individual stars to a collective identity hungry for advancement, a team where character and effort mattered more than names on the back of shirts.
Some players arrived to prove themselves after varied chapters in their careers, while others joined hoping to rewrite their narratives through a shared, singular goal. The season became a test of durability, commitment, and tactical clarity as the club charted a path back toward stability and competitiveness. Ten years after the Primera dream through the promotion playoffs, Hercules faced a moment of reckoning. The simplest route to escaping the recurring nightmare was clear in theory, though hard in practice: embrace the present reality, acknowledge that history does not win matches, and adhere to a concrete plan under Rodríguez. This marked the first step toward a stronger future.
Today Hercules stands as a deliberate rebuild, with a squad and staff united around a concrete philosophy. The goal is steady, measured progress that can restore confidence among supporters and reestablish the club’s standing within the league structure. The road ahead remains long, but the focus is on consistency, humility, and a relentless work ethic that can gradually restore the pride of a club that has endured more than its share of hardship. The journey continues as the club writes the next chapter in its history, a chapter fans hope will finally reflect the club’s true potential and long-standing tradition.