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.
History
One of the oldest clubs in the Valencian Community, 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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
Season to season
6 seasons in Segunda División
1 season in Primera Federación
11 seasons in Segunda División B
1 season in Segunda División RFEF
59 seasons in Tercera División
Honours
Tercera División: 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
Youth players
Out on loan
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
Reserve team
Eldense's reserve team, CD Eldense B, was founded in 1994 and plays in the Lliga Comunitat, which corresponds to the sixth tier. The B-team played their six initial seasons in the Segunda Regional before achieving promotion to the Primera Regional in 2000.
Inactive during the 2005–06 season after being relegated from the Primera Regional, Eldense B returned to the seventh tier in the following campaign, before again achieving promotion in 2009. Relegated in 2010, the club returned to Segunda Regional, and went inactive in 2013 after spending one year back in the Primera Regional.
Eldense B returned to an active status in 2017, in the Segunda Regional. The club achieved promotion to the Primera Regional in June 2021, and reached a first-ever promotion to the Regional Preferente on 29 May 2022.
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.