José Luis Oltra’s bond with Castellón and last year’s harsh precedent | OneFootball

Sentiment is set aside as José Luis Oltra’s Huesca host Castellón on Sunday at half past six at El Alcoraz, with survival and promotion at stake.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, only a win keeps Huesca alive. They are three points off safety, Cádiz set the line and head to head is level. With goal difference minus 20 for Cádiz and minus 21 for Huesca, if Imanol Idiakez’s side better Huesca’s result, relegation follows.

Twelve months ago, Oltra returned to Castalia with Eldense in the antepenultimate round. A 1-1 draw saved the hosts and left Eldense four points from safety with six to play. A week later, 25 May 2025, a 3-3 against Racing Santander confirmed Eldense’s drop to Primera Federación, which they have just left.

Oltra still holds a special place in Castellón’s history. Nearly a quarter of a century ago he altered the club’s direction, laying the base for five seasons in Segunda from 2005 to 2010.

He arrived in summer 2002 aged 33 from Catarroja in Regional Preferente, a gamble by Fernando Gómez Colomer. Castellón were in decline, relegated in 1991 then 1994, near disappearance in 1997, and the 2001/2002 season flirted with Tercera.

His first season brought 30 league matches unbeaten and a dominant Segunda B regular phase, but promotion slipped away with a decisive loss to Ciudad de Murcia. Despite Xavi Oliva, Javi Sanchis and Paco Salillas, that side was known as Oltra’s, his youth and charisma bonding with orelluts who still fill SkyFi Castalia.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo