Di Stéfano, Bordalás and Baraja: Elche as the springboard to Valencia | OneFootball

Elche and Valencia meet on Saturday for their 60th derby, a rivalry that has also crossed over in the dugout. Alfredo Di Stéfano, José Bordalás and Rubén Baraja each used Elche as a launchpad before moving to Mestalla.

After a glittering playing career, Di Stéfano began coaching at Elche. According to Bdfutbol, he took charge late in 66-67. Elche then lost to Valencia in the Copa Generalísimo semi-finals.

He started 67-68 in the top flight but was dismissed after matchday 15, with three wins, three draws and nine defeats. Old Altabix was where the legend served his apprenticeship before joining Valencia in 70-71, later coaching them a record 313 times and winning a league title and the Cup Winners’ Cup across three spells.

More than three decades on, Bordalás arrived at Martínez Valero. Previously a specialist in Segunda B with a brief, low-key stint at Hércules, he seized his chance at Elche, staying almost three seasons and taking charge of 118 matches, coming close to promotion in one campaign.

Success at Getafe led him to Valencia, where in 2022 he narrowly missed the Copa del Rey. He met expectations but departed on poor terms after Peter Lim chose Gennaro Gattuso, though his single season is remembered fondly.

Baraja, a Valencia great as a player, also took his first senior job at Elche after coaching the club’s youth and B sides. He completed the year fighting for the play-off, then managed Rayo, Sporting, Tenerife and Zaragoza.

In February 2023 he returned to Valencia to avert relegation, kept them up and built his own Quinta with emerging talent. After 78 matches he was dismissed, replaced by Carlos Corberán.

Source: AS