The 2011-12 campaign delivered a season of steady consolidation for Elche, with Los Franjiverdes securing a respectable mid-table 11th-place finish in the Segunda División. This year proved to be a vital building block, laying the groundwork for the historic promotion that would follow. Leading the attack and providing the firepower was the reliable centre-forward Ángel Rodríguez, whose 13 crucial goals anchored the side in a tough division. It was a season that established the base for a squad featuring players like Jordi Xumetra and Edu Albacar, and remains a defining chapter as the club prepared for its triumphant return to the top flight.