26 days later
Written by Ruairidh Barlow
Some of you may feel a familiar ring at the title of this piece, but it twangs wrong. Others might have recognised it as the hijacked name of the what Wikipedia labels a horror-science fiction film, directed by Danny Boyle in 2002. The significance of the 26 of course is that Jorge Almirón’s second spell at Elche lasted just that number of earth rotations. In reality, none of the characters in Elche’s story have the dramatic flourish, the ability to paint their faces with emotion on demand or the self-aware humour that Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris or Brendan Gleeson could bring to a chilling 90 minutes.
If Amazon or Netflix or some other company that doesn’t need further advertising were to consider investing in a documentary on Los Franjiverdes, it would no doubt be turned down on the basis that the production value is too cheap. Additionally, there are no twists and turns to keep the audience engaged – zero stands crudely in the wins and clean sheets columns. The props are dilapidated and the story is nihilistic.
After Elche were beaten at the weekend, owner Christian Bragarnik took to social media denounce that ‘attitude is non-negotiable’. If there is one person that comes out of this period as half-arsed though, it is Bragarnik himself.
Under Francisco, who was appointed on the 28th of November 2021 after previous saviour Fran Escribá was dismissed, Elche were revitalised last season. After seven games consisting of just one draw and six defeats, his sacking this season was understandable.
The frightful part was the process of it. Bragarnik waited until one game after the international break to sack Francisco. Eight days passed with former Eurovision candidate Alberto Gallego leading the team, before Almirón was appointed - the very same whose dreadful 16-game winless run in LaLiga had required the Escribá rescue job.
In came the Argentine, whom Bragarnik himself represents, to extend that winless run to 21 games. Two 2-2 draws with Espanyol and Valencia punctuated defeats to Real Madrid, Getafe and most recently Real Valladolid. Keen observers will have finally spotted that the narrative has received some nutrition – it was Valladolid’s Pacheta who brought them to LaLiga, and was duly sent packing to make space for Almirón the first time.
The Estadio Martínez Valero is one of Spain’s finest choirs. All together, their himno rings out with a fervour that would not be out of place in Bragarnik’s native Argentina. Elche are the ninth-best supported team in LaLiga this season. Of the teams that have never won a league title, they have the highest attendance.
Less than 36 hours before their tie with Girona, former player Sergio Mantecón was given the reigns as caretaker manager, one game before the break for the World Cup. The latest in a series of turns that lack rhyme or reason. Even disregarding Elche’s questionable summer recruitment, the stewardship during the season looks lazy and unplanned, as if the football club has not been able to hold the attention span of the one making the decisions.
Increasingly Elche fans are being forced to scrabble around for reasons to head out of town towards the Martínez Valero. Supporters (and players) will be wondering why they should make the effort when it is not reciprocated by the club. Perhaps they might wonder if they aren’t better off following the signs further along the main road to Torrellano, and beyond to Alicante airport. They could spend that money flying away somewhere relaxing, away from the budget horror show on their doorstep.