Comfortable and relentless in his leadership, he remains inseparable from the city, the climate, and the light that echoes his island home—the blue skies of Puerto de la Cruz. Carlos Abad found his best form again, proving to himself that, even as a goalkeeper returning to Alicante, he still has meaningful contributions to offer in a sport that once seemed ready to sideline him. Trusting in success, he left Madrid in 2017, and the years that followed brought few truly satisfying moments on the field. After stopping at five clubs, enduring a serious injury, and missing an entire season, he landed at Hércules, having previously worn the jerseys of Tenerife, Córdoba, AO Xanthi in Greece, Deportivo de La Coruña, and Atlético Baleares.
This summer, aligned with a fresh playing model and a new approach suited to the realities of the fourth tier, the club presented a renewal proposal that was modest relative to past earnings. The deal increased his base salary, yet not to the level a club aiming for promotion would expect given the project’s direction away from the Third RFEF. Angel Rodriguez led the negotiations, followed by Lolo Escobar, shaping the club’s long-term plan.
«The pressure remains the same, and expectations stay high, but the energy at kickoff feels brighter and more thrilling»
He now feels valued again, which rekindles his love for the game every training session. He attributes much of the turnaround to the new coach, Ruben Torrecilla, who fostered a strong group bond quickly. “I was surprised by how fast we started acting as a unit, even with so many new faces. The coach is the architect of this cohesion. From day one we sensed the group spirit, that shared feeling. He put in the work to create it. We are a great group of people and a formidable working unit,” he adds.
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The 28-year-old has represented five clubs since leaving Castilla in 2017.
► His prime years were spent with Real Madrid’s reserve side. Before joining Hércules, he wore the jerseys of Tenerife, Córdoba, AO Xanthi, Deportivo de La Coruña, and Atlético Baleares.
For the Tenerife native, the secret to Hércules’ strong start this season is simple. “We are reaping the fruits of solid preseason work. We are pleased with the results. The main goal is to collect points. If it feels good, that’s great, but staying solid is essential. Starting strong builds confidence and lifts mood and enthusiasm,” he explains.
brain study
“We understood we would face many artificial turf surfaces this year and prepared accordingly. Adapting quickly to the demands of every match surface is crucial. If we keep this mindset, reaching our target becomes more achievable,” cautions the goalkeeper.
The coach’s approach has drawn attention. “We are a highly competitive, consistently busy squad. That must remain our foundation. There will be days when we dictate terms, and others when we endure, yet always with victory in mind.”
Unseen wonderful gestures
Carlos Abad simply ignores outside noise in the locker room. “Winning two games is fantastic, and it’s amazing to see the city embrace it because they deserve it. It has been a long wait, and we’ve only just begun. We aim to ignite the enthusiasm further, because it fuels the team.” We stay grateful because more contributions from the squad make long-term goals easier to chase. Still, the league is long, and tougher days will come.
“It’s great to win two games and it’s great that people are enjoying it, because they want it and they deserve it, but it’s been a long time coming.”
The Hércules goalkeeper notes that the atmosphere has shifted for the better after the events of the previous season. The pressure remains, yet the mood is more positive. “Fans arrive with high expectations, but the start of this season feels brighter and more exciting, and you can feel it on the pitch. The supporters have welcomed this squad with open arms, and now we must give them reasons to keep believing and trusting us. If this momentum lasts, it will provide strength through tougher moments. The public always needs to see us fighting for it.”
Satisfaction
The joy of playing, the confidence of leadership, and a solid grounding in the coach’s philosophy empower him to pursue his dreams in a city and among a fan base that has welcomed him with open arms. He has found his place in Alicante and feels completely at ease here, a certainty that made renewing his contract straightforward. Since leaving Real Madrid Castilla, he has rarely spent two years at the same club. Last season was personally successful, and the affection from people played a central role in the decision to stay. This year, that same love greeted him from day one, reinforcing the belief that staying was the right choice, perhaps the best one.