Time is an unwieldy force. It bends everything to its will, the judge and the jury rolled into one. Unstoppable, stubborn, relentless. Time grants reason and takes it away, never stepping aside. It pays in its own coin and never accepts a bribe. It toys with mortals the way a capricious god would — testing endurance, forcing choices, and deciding under the shadow of perpetual error.
The next Hercules, better… if not better
Pedro Rojas
With the passing of years, that lightness many once felt grows dimmer. Borders tighten, frustrations flare, routine ossifies into something destructive if it is allowed to. And so, one day heroes concede to the brutal certainty that everyone, including them, has walked this road. Legends take longer to forge than to be swallowed by time. Hercules is no exception to that truth.
In recent seasons, the stance of the sports commission regarding contract renewals and salary adjustments has been a persistent source of tension. Raul Ruiz, trying to push for a lower wage, found little sympathy and failed to sway the outcome. Michel Herrero, like others, has seen decisive match moments that challenge a project’s backbone and strip away its character. In such moments, the hierarchy is tested and sometimes toppled. The Italian collaborator is unlikely to repeat past mistakes, while the other two might seize an opportunity if it arises. The sense that pride dissolves as easily as a candle’s flame lingers, yet what is considered excessive often fades from memory, while what is deemed cheap never truly leaves the mind.
Toscano’s departure opens captaincy to the striped Carlos Abad or, by seniority, César Moreno and Nico Espinosa.
Hercules 2023-24 requires leadership to anchor a team that can hold strong during tight outcomes — matches that shrink, bend, or tilt toward defeat. It has been a long time since the club found a steady voice; resistance to that voice makes it hard to escape the pull of a modest football culture that drags even great players down. History weighs heavy on a league that often looks more like cardboard than reality.
Raúl Ruiz is pictured during a league game against Hercules outside Alicante. Marc Elvira / TFO
Raúl Ruiz wants to stay, but only under precise structural and economic conditions. Within the squad’s current plan, his defensive strengths can be replaced, and the offensive contribution is not seen as any less valuable than last season. He remains a captain who understands the odds. If circumstances align to extend his time with the club, he will do so with intention, even if the role he occupies feels a touch hollow.
RAÚL RUIZ
► 33 YEARS
► Lost only 3 games all season and started 30 of 31 games last year in the top ten.
Michel Herrero is in a different position. He carries a weight of negotiation that highlights a power dynamic the team would prefer to avoid. Yet a year spent in talks about returns and terms has made him a notable piece in the locker room, even if his salary renegotiation created an undercurrent of tension. The roster notes his departure would hit hard, given the emotional and strategic value he once held. When the club pressed for a salary reduction, Herrero did not hesitate to reference his agent, choosing a direct path over debate. The result is a sense of vulnerability that lingers in the corridors of the club.
MICHEL HERRERO
► 35 YEARS
► Played in 32 of 34 League games and scored 6 goals, matching a younger competitor. He started 29 matches and appeared in 15 as a substitute.
This ongoing negotiation marks a critical moment as the presidency weighs the franchise’s long-term structure against a wish to shed the investor burden. The leaders named last year are no longer the obvious choices in Turkey. The door remains ajar for new captains — Carlos Abad, César Moreno, Nico Espinosa, or even Alvarito — but the goalkeeper is the one who best fits the profile at present.