CD Eldense
Spanish football team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Club Deportivo Eldense is a Spanish football team based in Elda, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1921, the club plays in the Segunda División, and holds home matches at Estadio Municipal Nuevo Pepico Amat, which has a capacity of 4,036 spectators.[2] On 8 September 2026, eighth time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi reached verbal agreement to buy this club.
Azulgranas
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| Full name | Club Deportivo Eldense | |||
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| Nicknames | Deportivo Azulgranas | |||
| Founded | 17 September 1921 | |||
| Stadium | Estadio Municipal Nuevo Pepico Amat | |||
| Capacity | 5,776[1] | |||
| Owner | Lionel Messi | |||
| President | Carolina Holguín Tafur | |||
| Head coach | Claudio Barragán | |||
| League | Segunda División | |||
| 2025–26 | Primera Federación – Group 2, 1st of 20 (promoted) | |||
| Website | cdeldense.es | |||
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History
One of the oldest clubs in the Valencian Community,[3] Eldense enrolled in the Valencian Football Federation in 1924, and started competing in Tercera División 19 years later. It first appeared in Segunda División in the 1956–57 season, narrowly avoiding relegation after finishing in 16th position; the first spell in that tier lasted three years, in a total of five at the professional level.[4]
Match fixing allegations
On 4 April 2017, Eldense coach Filippo Vito di Pierro and general manager Nobile Capuani were arrested by Spanish authorities on charges of corruption.[5] The detentions occurred after club president David Aguilar made complaints of match fixing following a 0–12 loss to Barcelona B, whilst Eldense player Cheikh Saad said that he had seen Aguilar arguing with di Pierro at half-time of the match, calling the latter a "scoundrel"; subsequently, the former asked La Liga president Javier Tebas to investigate those allegations.[6]
Eldense temporarily suspended all sporting activities, also ending its contract with the Italian investment group represented by Capuani. They also released 12 players, with five people being arrested in connection with the events.[7]
Three consecutive promotions
Eldense spent four years in Tercera División and were promoted to the new fourth level Segunda División RFEF in 2020-21 season due to restructuring of the Spanish football league system. On 28 May 2022, Eldense secured a second consecutive promotion to the new third level Primera Federación after beating Sestao River in the last playoff match. On 25 June 2023, Eldense secured promotion to Segunda División after a draw against Real Madrid Castilla. The play-off finished 4–4 on aggregate meaning Eldense went up due to after having a higher regular season finish. Eldense returned to the second tier after a 59-year absence and achieved three consecutive promotions. After two seasons stay in second division, Eldense was relegated back third division in 2024-25 season, but the club achieved promotion back to second division in 2025-26 season, following a 2–1 win against Atlético Madrileño on 17 May 2026.
Messi Era
In September 2026, Argentine star Lionel Messi is in very advanced negotiations to acquire 100% of the shares of the club. The deal between his representatives and the investment group led by Juan Carlos Trujillo is awaiting legal formalities and approval from the Consejo Superior de Deportes in Spain.[8]
His second club on the Iberian Peninsula. If the agreement is finalized in the coming days, the Elda-based team (Alicante) will become the footballer's second property in Spanish football, following his previous investment in UE Cornellà. This move will cement Messi's expansion as an investor in the sports industry.
Season to season
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- 8 seasons in Segunda División
- 2 seasons in Primera Federación
- 11 seasons in Segunda División B
- 1 season in Segunda División RFEF
- 59 seasons in Tercera División
Honours
- Tercera División
- Champions (12): 1955–56, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1978–79, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1991–92, 1997–98, 2013–14
Current squad
- As of 7 September 2026[9]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Youth players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Current technical staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Claudio Barragán |
| Assistant manager | Josep Ferrando |
| Fitness coach | Manolo Sempere |
| Goalkeeper coach | Juan Canales |
| Technical assistant | Sergio Aracil |
| Technical analyst | Manu Aguilera |
| Chief of medical services | David Fernández |
| Nutritionist | Miquel Pérez |
| Physiotherapist | Marcos Martínez Juan Carlos Verdú |
| Assistant fitness coach | Joan Yagüe |
| Rehab fitness coach | Alejandro Maseres |
| Match delegate / Team manager | Iván Obrador |
| Kit man | Juan Amorós Kevin Galindo |
Last updated: 11 August 2026
Source: CD Eldense (in Spanish)
Famous players
Note: this list includes players that have played at least 100 league games and/or have reached international status.
Roberto Orellana
Francisco Alba- Boni Amat
- Pepico Amat
- José Castroverde
- Coca
- Foncho
- Francisco Grande
- Gregorio López Miró
- Peque
- José Luis Ramírez
- Manuel Santiago
- Alfonso Silos
- Juan Villena
Diego Bardanca
Florin Andone
Reserve team
Eldense's reserve team, CD Eldense B, was founded in 1994 and plays in the Tercera Federación – Group 6, which corresponds to the sixth tier. A second reserve team named CD Eldense C also existed during the 2002–03 season, playing in Segunda Regional. The C-side also returned to an active status in 2021, and currently plays in Segona FFCV – Group 8.