Elche Honors Febas Before Celta Vigo Clash in LaLiga

Elche CF will recognize former midfielder Aleix Febas before hosting Celta Vigo in the eighth round of LaLiga EA Sports on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 2 p.m. local time at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero. The tribute acknowledges Febas's three seasons with the club, during which he made 117 appearances and helped Elche secure promotion to the top flight.

According to Diario AS, Febas joined Elche on a free transfer from Malaga in the summer of 2023. His departure for Celta Vigo followed an extended period of uncertainty, as the midfielder weighed competing offers before deciding to leave the club where he had established himself as a central figure.

His return to Elche comes after a difficult start to the season in Galicia. Febas has played just 185 minutes for Celta because of physical discomfort, according to Diario AS, but the October 11 fixture offers an opportunity to return to the stadium where he spent three seasons.

Febas described the significance of his former club during an appearance on Ser Deportivos Vigo on September 25.

"Elche is the club of my life. It has given me everything." Febas said.

The midfielder's departure carried particular emotional weight because of his connection to the city, where his son was born. Diario AS reported that Elche supporters had repeatedly urged him to stay, turning their campaign into a prominent expression of their appreciation.

Febas became a key component of Elche's midfield under coach Eder Sarabia, helping direct possession and establish the team's rhythm. Diario AS reported that he finished the previous season as the LaLiga player who drew the most fouls and ranked among the players with the most passes in the opposition half.

Those performances attracted Celta's interest, with the Galician club pursuing his signature until the final stages of negotiations. Febas had also received offers with better financial terms than Elche's proposal when he originally joined, according to Diario AS.

Elche's recruitment team had monitored the midfielder for months before arranging a meeting with then-coach Sebastian Beccacece. The discussion took place at Beccacece's home in Los Arenales del Sol and helped persuade Febas to commit to the club.

His contribution extended beyond performances on the pitch. Before a decisive match against Getafe, Febas addressed the media despite being suspended and unavailable to play, delivering a message intended to reinforce team unity while speculation about his future continued.

"I haven't signed anything with anyone," Febas said during that press conference, according to Diario AS.

Meanwhile, the October 11 match also carries significance for both teams' league campaigns. Elche and Celta each entered the international break after victories, with Elche defeating Espanyol away despite playing with 10 men from the sixth minute and Celta beating Racing de Santander 5-0 at Balaidos.

According to DAZN, the eighth-round fixture is scheduled for 2 p.m. peninsular time at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, with television coverage in Spain available through Movistar+.

Elche coach Martin Anselmi prepared his squad during the international break with a training camp and two friendly matches, while Celta coach Claudio Giraldez faced a demanding upcoming schedule that includes a meeting with Juventus on the horizon.