Having moved past the 'mourning' for Eder Sarabia's departure and with owner Christian Bragarnik in America, Elche CF aims to speed up the hiring of its next manager. The club intends for the process not to drag on excessively, although a deliberate pace has been typical in recent years.
Among the favorites to take the reins is Iván Ania. The Asturian coach has one more year on his contract with Córdoba, meaning his contractual situation would need to be resolved before his signing could be finalized. Ania, whose season concludes this Sunday in the Second Division, has publicly held onto his current contract when questioned about his future.
Ania has also been linked with Real Oviedo, a club where he had a long career as a player. He is described as a methodical coach with a playing style that aligns with Bragarnik's philosophy and possesses a strong personality. Although Córdoba's project is growing and he has full powers there, a promotion would represent professional growth that he would be unlikely to readily renounce.
“"My contractual situation is known. I have nothing more to say. The situation is clear, I have one more year on my contract"
The list of candidates also includes other names without current contracts. Xavi García Pimienta, known for his playing style, is without a team since Sevilla dismissed him in April 2025. A product of La Masia, he achieved a higher level at Las Palmas before his spell at Sevilla, which was marked by the club's ongoing crisis.
Among the offers received, Alessio Lisci stands out. The Italian, with experience at Levante, Mirandés, and Osasuna, also has no commitment for the upcoming season. Lisci narrowly missed promotion with Mirandés in the 2024-2025 season, with Eder Sarabia's Elche denying him glory in the penultimate match.
His strong performance at Mirandés earned him a move to Osasuna, where he had a disappointing end to the campaign, losing his last five matches. His style is more pragmatic, and he had been linked with Rayo Vallecano, an interest that may have waned.
Finally, the Argentine route, driven by Bragarnik, is led by Hernán Crespo. The former player for clubs such as Parma, Lazio, Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Milan, has managed teams including Modena, Banfield, Defensa y Justicia, São Paulo, Al-Duhail, and Al-Ain.
Crespo and Bragarnik maintain a good relationship, and his name has surfaced before. It remains to be seen whether the owner will opt for familiar names like Jorge Almirón or Sebastián Beccacece, or instead choose talent from LaLiga.
