The history of overcoming Ibiza by Amadeo Salvo

Do you remember what you were doing in the summer of 2015? Has your life changed a lot since then? Sure something yes, but not as much as the Unión Deportiva Ibiza-Eivissa. A goal from Ekain has turned the Balearic Islands into a Second Division team. An absolutely historic ascent for the island and that has many proper names along the way. There is money involved, of course. But what has been achieved by this club will go down in history in Spain. A dream carved out step by step, with perseverance and a clear idea of ​​taking the project to the elite. Its chronology, later recounted, was unspeakable. Ibiza is already with the best and, of course, it has come to stay.

Amadeo Salvo, Spanish businessman and former president of Valencia, surprised in the summer of 2015 when he paid with his partners 60,000 euros in the Balearic Federation to revive the existing Ibiza-Eivissa Sports Union. The club had left a debt that no one had been able to pay off and it had disappeared in 2010. Six years after being reborn, so that they can understand the magnitude of what has been achieved, it is already in the Second Division.

He started from Regional Preferente, in the bases of Balearic football. In his second year he already achieved promotion to Third. Trap category, Ibiza signs a great campaign, but ends up falling in the tie for promotion against the Levante subsidiary. Amadeo Salvo, however, achieved administrative promotion, after the Royal Spanish Football Federation disqualified Lorca. Thus, in three years the team was already in the bronze category.

However, the jump to Second B does not promise automatic promotions. Not much less. A good final stretch of the season leads them to touch the Playoff in their first season. In the second, that of COVID-19, they do dispute the promotion as they are fighting for the leadership with Atlético Baleares at the time when the pandemic forced the competition to stop. There were many illusions in the playoffs. Once again, life or death sentenced the team. Cornellà was his executioner.

Juan Carlos Carcedo placeholder image

Pablo Alfaro did not continue at the head of a bench through which another illustrious one such as Andrés Palop had already passed. Amadeo Salvo then opted for a technician who had trained Mbappé, Neymar or Aubameyang and that he had seen advanced rounds of the Champions and Europa League with his own eyes. It was none other than Juan Carlos Carcedo, for years Unai Emery's second coach.

From the first day, it was seen that the bet was successful. Ibiza was a perfect machine, winning their games in a resounding way and barely fitting in. Moreover, in this Playoff he has not once picked up the ball from his goal. Ten goals received throughout the season is a fact with historical overtones.

He not only competed like a colossus against his peers. In Copa del Rey, he beat Compostela and later overthrew Celta de Coudet by five goals to two. The Athletic, who would end up being a finalist in the competition, beat him 1-0. Unai Núñez. in the discount, it broke the illusion of continuing in the KO tournament. Something that did not distort the speech of Carcedo, one of the great architects of this success.

Big trouble on your way

It might seem like a dream season. It is not like this. Shortly before the start of the Playoff, Ibiza suffered two fatal blows to its morale. Manu Molina, a very important player for his coach, was diagnosed with a testicular tumor with which he continues to struggle today. The footballer left the team dynamics to fight a new battle, but fortunately his health condition allowed him to travel to the semifinals to support his team.

In addition, in this same round, the players posed with shirts supporting their captain Sergio Cirio. On the last day, with everything already decided, he was seriously injured. He was removed on a stretcher and in tears, aware that what happened would take him away from the playing fields and that he could not fight the Playoff with his teammates. By impact, They were two hard blows to nothing of traveling to Extremadura. But the team has been rebuilt and has not lowered its performance at all. So the champions rise.

And now that?

Ibiza is the clear example of a team that is here to stay. That is the intention, although Segunda is treacherous. Amadeo Salvo has invested a lot in promoting the project and intends to establish it among the elite. He has already tried media names like that of Frame Borriello, now a staunch club fan, and Palop or Alfaro on the benches. They helped him both sportingly, in the media and financially and are part of the success achieved.

Carcedo's continuity is a fact and the bulk of the squad has the level to continue competing in the Second Division. Signings will arrive, such as Enzo Zidane, who has been on trial in recent weeks. The president arrived with a clear intention and is fulfilling his promise. A busy summer is coming in Ibiza, but not only in pubs and clubs. Before getting down to work, and with the caution that the pandemic marks, today the entire island will celebrate in style. The Ibiza, six years later, is already among the best. Congratulations.