Since the turn of the century Valencia have done more than any other club to challenge the Barcelona-Real Madrid hegemony in Spain.
Los Ches won the league twice under Rafael Benitez and were also successful in the UEFA Cup. Since Benitez left in 2004, the club have won just one trophy - the 2007-08 Copa del Rey.
That triumph came under the stewardship of Ronald Koeman whose brief rein proved disastrous in every other department.
The club have been in dire financial straits for several years now and have been unable to move out of the Mestalla into their new ground.
The sales of star players David Villa and David Silva in the summer of 2010 left current coach Unai Emery with a rebuilding job ahead of the 2010-11 season but the team performed well, finishing third in La Liga.
Quick Facts:
- Founded: 1919
- Home Ground (Capacity): Mestalla, London (55,000)
- Nicknames: Los Che, Bats, Murciélagos, Valencianistas
- Home Colors: White and Black
- Top Goalscorer All-Time: Edmundo Suárez (269 goals from 1939 to 1950)
- First Division/La Liga Titles: (6) 1941-42, 1943-44, 1946-47, 1970-71, 2001-02, 2003-04
- Spanish Cup/Copa del Rey Titles: (7) 1940-41, 1948–49, 1953–54, 1966–67, 1978–79, 1998-99, 2007-08
- European Cup/Champions League: None
- Fairs Cup, UEFA Cup, Europa League: (3) 1961-62, 1962-63, 2003-04
- European Super Cup: (2) 1980, 2004
The Team:
- Current Coach: Unai Emery
- Top Goalscorer 2010-2011: Roberto Soldado (25 in all competitions)
- Captain: David Navarro
- 2010-2011 League Finish: 3rd
Valencia Squad:
1 Alves ·2 Bruno ·3 Maduro ·4 Rami ·5 Topal ·6 Albelda ·7 Jonas ·8 Feghouli ·9 Soldado ·10 Banega ·11 Aduriz ·12 Barragán ·13 Guaita ·14 Piatti ·15 Dealbert ·16 Canales ·17 Alba ·18 Ruiz ·19 Pablo ·20 R. Costa ·21 Parejo ·22 Mathieu ·23 Miguel ·24 Tino Costa ·28 Bernat ·
A Little History:
The club was founded in 1919, and the team played in the Algirós Stadium until moving to Mestalla in 1923.
Valencia emerged as a major force in Spanish soccer in the 1940s after the Civil War, winning three Liga titles and two Cups.
Los Ches found it hard to acquit themselves in the 50s, with Real Madrid dominating.
The club won the Fairs Cup twice in 1962 and 63, beating Barcelona and Dynamo Zagreb respectively over two legs.
The arrival of the great Alfredo Di Stefano in 1970 was followed by the last Liga title until the 90s. After a poor start, Los Ches put together a strong run and won the title on the final day of the season despite a defeat to Espanyol.
Valencia attracted Mario Kempes to the club in 1976 and he won two consecutive Pichichis (Spanish first division top scorer award), scoring 24 and 28 goals respectively in the 76-77 and 77-78 seasons.
After a Cup Winners Cup triumph in 1980, it was almost 20 years - with Valencia suffering relegation to the Segunda Division - until the club won more silverware in the form of the Copa del Rey.
Defensive Argentinean coach Hector Cuper arrived in 1999 and led Los Ches to two Champions League finals, losing both times against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
This Valencia side were stubborn defensively with the likes of Mauricio Pellegrino, Roberto Ayala and Amedeo Carboni as tough as nails at the back.
While Cuper's side was on the cusp of greatness, Benitez's realised their domestic ambitions with two Liga titles in three years between 2002 and 2004. A victory over Marseille in the UEFA Cup final meant that Benitez left the club for Liverpool having won a domestic and European double in 2004.
