Javi Calleja named first coach of Messi’s Eldense project

Eldense has set the first major piece of its new chapter: Javi Calleja (48) will take charge of the bench as part of the project driven by Leo Messi, who has moved into the club’s ownership. As Mundo Deportivo reports, Calleja has already been announced and signs through June 30, 2028, although the purchase of the club still needs the final approval from Spain’s Consejo Superior de Deportes.

Calleja steps in after the sacking of Claudio Barragán, following a short spell with Josep Ferrando acting as interim coach. Mundo Deportivo highlights that the Madrid-born manager has extensive experience in Spanish professional football, especially in LaLiga and Segunda División. He previously led Levante and Real Oviedo, and also coached Villarreal and Alavés. His latest stop before this was in Saudi Arabia, where he was in charge of Al-Riyadh.

A key change for the start

The team also has immediate goals to focus on: Eldense is newly promoted, and, per Mundo Deportivo, it did not register its first win until the last matchday. In that context, the priority is to pick up enough points to avoid trouble, while longer-term ambitions are intended to be bigger.

Waiting on the final green light

With Messi’s ownership taking shape, the project’s framework is already set, but Mundo Deportivo notes that the club-buying process still depends on the Consejo Superior de Deportes’ final confirmation. Until that happens, Calleja is the cornerstone of the sporting plan from the dugout.