Elche Club de Fútbol is a historic, resilient professional Spanish football club based in the city of Elche, province of Alicante, Valencian Community. Universally known as "Los Franjiverdes" (The Green-Striped Ones) or "Los Ilicitanos," the team plays its home matches at the historic 33,732-capacity Estadio Martínez Valero.
Founded in 1922 following the merger of local clubs, Elche CF traditionally plays in white kits featuring a distinctive horizontal green stripe across the chest. The club made its La Liga debut in 1959 and spent 24 seasons in the Spanish top flight, enjoying a memorable golden era in the 1960s and 1970s characterized by strong league placements.
Elche reached its greatest domestic cup milestone in 1969, advancing to the Copa del Generalísimo (now Copa del Rey) final. Over the past decade, Elche has established a reputation as a classic "yo-yo club," frequently bouncing back between Segunda División and La Liga through high-stakes promotion play-off victories.
Elche CF maintains intense regional rivalries across the Province of Alicante and the Valencian region, most notably local encounters against Hércules CF alongside regional battles with Valencia CF, Villarreal CF, and Levante UD.
Elche (Spain)
