The appointment of Martín Anselmi as the new coach of Elche CF is not surprising, given the club's current ownership and its history, marked by trust in Argentine coaches. Anselmi will face the challenge previously undertaken by several compatriots, but he must overcome a curious curse affecting coaches from that country in the club's top-flight campaigns.
The relationship between Elche's Argentine managers in the top division and desired results has not always been favorable. In recent cases, it has been associated with relegations. The 2022-2023 season, one to forget, saw two Argentine coaches pass through the club, one very briefly, without being able to reverse the situation.
Jorge Almirón and Sebastián Beccacece are the latest examples. Almirón managed the team for five matches in 2022-2023, following an initial spell in 2020-2021 that lasted 21 games. Beccacece's second stint, despite starting with enthusiasm and dominant play, ended with a collapse that led to his non-renewal.
Before them, Felipe Mesones, a club veteran, began the 1988-1989 season with poor results, being dismissed after ten matches. However, Mesones also achieved survival in 1976-1977 and promotion in 1988, still holding the record for most games managed at Elche.
The relegation streak was initiated by Roque Olsen in 1977-1978, who was replaced after matchday 26. The season was concluded by Juan Carlos Lezcano, who could not prevent the team's return to the second division.
Two other Argentine managers led Elche in the top flight without relegations, although without achieving the expected success. Néstor «Pipo» Rossi flirted with it in 1974-1975, finishing the season in eighth position, but ended the campaign with a derby defeat. The following season lasted only seven matches.
The list was opened by the legend Alfredo di Stéfano, who was a naturalized Spaniard. His time at Elche in 1967-1968 was half a season, leaving the team at the bottom of the table, a situation that was eventually rectified in the second half of the competition.
