Outgoing Eldense president Carolina Holguin issues special request to Lionel Messi
Outgoing Eldense president Carolina Holguin has officially handed over the club to new owner Lionel Messi, urging him to respect the club's heritage and deliver big dreams to the city.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: FoxR
Carolina Holguin has officially departed as president of Spanish club Eldense, marking the completion of the takeover by new owner Lionel Messi. Since purchasing shares from Pascual Perez in October 2025, Messi has now assumed full control of the Segunda Division side.
During her tenure, Holguin oversaw significant growth, including the men's team's promotion back to La Liga and the development of the academy and women's setup. Reflecting on her time in charge, she acknowledged the pressure of making complex and sometimes unpopular operational decisions to ensure the club's long-term financial health.
For me, being able to hand over the reins of this club to him today is an enormous source of pride and, above all, gives me the peace of mind of knowing that I leave it in the best hands. Carolina Holguin
In her farewell message, the former president issued a direct plea to the legendary Argentine: "Take care of it, respect what it means to its people and, above all, bring big dreams to Elda." She also encouraged the club's supporters to offer the new owner a warm welcome.
Eldense must now shift their focus to urgent league business. The team currently sits 16th in the Segunda Division with only five points from their first five matches. A home clash against Eibar this weekend serves as a crucial test to climb the table as the club begins a fresh chapter under new leadership.