Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero

Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, a football stadium in Elche, Spain, home to Elche CF since 1976. Also known as Estadio de Elche, it’s one of the most recognizable venues in Spain’s lower-tier La Liga scenes, known for its intimate atmosphere and steep stands that bring fans right on top of the pitch. This isn’t just another ground—it’s where local pride meets high-stakes football, with fans packing the stands even when the team’s fighting to avoid relegation.

The stadium holds just over 35,000 people, making it one of the larger grounds in Spain’s second division. But its real strength isn’t size—it’s the noise. When Elche plays a derby against nearby Villarreal or a crucial match against a top-flight side, the place shakes. You won’t find luxury boxes here like at Camp Nou or Santiago Bernabéu, but you’ll find something rarer: raw, unfiltered passion. Players say it’s one of the toughest places to play in Spain because the crowd never lets up. Even when Elche is down a goal, the chants keep coming.

Elche CF, the football club that calls this stadium home, has seen its ups and downs—promotions, relegations, financial troubles—but the stadium has stayed constant. It’s where legends like Juanmi and Fran Escribá built their reputations. The pitch, resurfaced in 2023, meets modern La Liga standards, and the lighting system lets night games feel like events, not just matches. This ground has hosted international friendlies too, including games for the Spanish national team’s youth squads, proving it’s more than just a local venue. Nearby, you’ll find the city of Elche itself, famous for its palm groves and historic shoe-making tradition. But for locals, the real heartbeat is what happens on matchdays at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero.

You won’t find this stadium in every global football guide, but if you’ve watched a La Liga match between Elche and Rayo Vallecano, or seen how Celta Vigo struggled to escape with a draw here, you know it matters. The atmosphere isn’t manufactured—it’s earned. Fans here don’t just watch football—they live it. And that’s why, even when Elche isn’t winning trophies, the stadium still draws crowds of 30,000+ on a Tuesday night in February.

What you’ll find below are real match reports from this ground: the last-minute winners, the controversial calls, the players who rose to the occasion under these lights. Whether it’s Elche’s fight to stay up, or visiting teams trying to survive here, these stories aren’t just about scores—they’re about what happens when a stadium becomes a character in the game.