The new 'franjiverde' coach, who will turn 41 in July, has signed for one season with an optional second year based on objectives. The board, led by owner Christian Bragarnik, is betting on a South American coach, as they did previously with Jorge Almirón and Sebastian Beccacece.
Anselmi joins the Elche club with significant experience, having previously coached the reserve team of Universidad Católica de Ecuador, Unión La Calera (Chile), Independiente del Valle (Ecuador), Cruz Azul (Mexico), Porto (Portugal), and Botafogo (Brazil), the latter from which he departed last March.
With Independiente del Valle, he won the 2022 Copa Sudamericana and the Recopa Sudamericana. In Mexico, he achieved a historic points record in short tournaments by leading the Apertura 2024, before moving to European football with Porto.
The club highlighted in its statement that "Anselmi's incorporation reinforces Elche CF's commitment to a way of understanding football based on prominence and competitive ambition." It is emphasized that the Argentine coach has developed teams with personality and a recognizable offensive proposal, a line that aligns with the club's desire to build an attractive project for the fans in the First Division.
The Elche squad is scheduled to return to training on June 29. It remains to be seen whether the new coach will confirm this date or grant more rest days to the players, of whom 22 have active contracts for the upcoming season. The arrival of Martín Anselmi represents a fundamental pillar for the new sporting project.
