Failure can act as a stern teacher, revealing what a club holds dear. For Hercules, resilience is the daily challenge that shapes the journey. The blue and white emblem remains a steadfast symbol of a project that has endured more downs than anyone expected, and the pursuit to reclaim a rightful place in professional football continues with stubborn resolve.
A decade ago, June 2012 brought a rare spark of hope for Hercules. Under Juan Carlos Mandiá, the club finished fifth and earned a shot at promotion to the First Division. Four wins—four steps—stood between them and the top tier. Yet the dream was tempered by heartbreak as they were eliminated by Alcorcón, with tight, drawn-out ties underscoring the fragility of the run and the cost of a few decisive moments going the other way.
That summer, the club outlined what appeared to be an ambitious plan to push forward. Early momentum suggested progress, but the campaign quickly exposed fragility. A slow start set a difficult tone for the season, and the expected ascent never materialized. In the following year, the team drifted further from the objective, and the professional status slipped from their grasp. By 2022, restructuring within non-professional tiers deepened the setback, and Hercules found itself grounded in the Second RFEF.
Enrique Ortiz’s leadership at that juncture prompted a shift far more radical than anyone had anticipated. Mistakes and misjudgments tested fan faith as 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 arrived after promotion to the First RFEF with Pontevedra, and the squad started to feel like a unit crafted in Rodríguez’s image. The emphasis moved 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 difficult 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 emphasis 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, one that fans hope will finally reflect the club’s true potential and long-standing tradition. (Source: club records and performance reports)