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Elche’s Remarkable Return to La Liga
After two years away from Spain’s top flight, Elche made a triumphant comeback to La Liga with a dominant 4-0 victory over Deportivo in June. As the third-largest city in the Comunidad Valenciana, Elche isn’t exactly a small club—but many predicted they would struggle to survive.
Ten games into the season, those doubts have vanished. Under head coach Eder Sarabia, Elche sit eighth in La Liga with three wins, five draws, and just two defeats. As they prepare to face Barcelona, the matchup carries special meaning for Sarabia, who once served as assistant coach at the Catalan club.
From Player to Coach: Sarabia’s Journey
Football runs deep in the Sarabia family. Eder’s father, Manu Sarabia, was a legend at Athletic Club, winning league titles in the 1980s. Eder’s own playing career, however, never reached those heights.
“I thought I was going to be a footballer, but it didn’t work out,” Sarabia once admitted. “Coaching fulfilled me from the start.”
Before pursuing football full-time, he even worked in a Bilbao supermarket—an experience he says taught him the value of hard work and perspective.
The Path to Elche
After ending his playing career at 24, Sarabia began coaching youth teams in the Basque Country, eventually joining Villarreal in 2011. His career took a major turn when he met Quique Setien, a former teammate of his father’s and a coach whose philosophy deeply influenced him.
When Setien took charge at Las Palmas in 2015, Sarabia joined as his assistant. Together they later moved to Real Betis and then Barcelona, where Sarabia got a firsthand look at working with some of the world’s best players.
Lessons from Barcelona
At Barcelona, Sarabia’s fiery personality drew media attention, particularly during moments when tension appeared between staff and players. Despite the headlines, he looks back on that period positively—especially his time with Lionel Messi.
“Leo isn’t just the best of all time—he probably understands football better than anyone,” Sarabia said. “He always wanted to improve, for himself and for the team.”
The experience at Camp Nou served as a major learning curve, preparing Sarabia for the challenges of managing his own club.
Building a Legacy at Elche
After three seasons at FC Andorra, Sarabia joined Elche in Spain’s second tier. His leadership guided them to promotion, earning a contract extension through 2027.
Despite a few recent setbacks, his team’s dynamic and attacking style has impressed fans and critics alike. Unlike many newly promoted sides, Sarabia refuses to play purely for survival.
“We have a model, but we never play the same way,” he explained. “The goal is to make the fans happy.”
Central to his philosophy is the Basque concept of “jatorra”—being honest, respectful, and fair. “Football is for clever people,” he says, “but not for cheats.”
More Than Just Results
For Sarabia, success in football isn’t only measured in wins or league position. It’s about creating something lasting.
“I think about the club’s growth in the short and long term,” he said. “If I stay for life, great. But if it’s six months or three years, I want to leave a legacy.”
