Valencia

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Valencia (瓦伦西亚)
Alias(es)	The Bats; Bats
Country	Spain
Home Ground	Mestalla Stadium — capacity of approximately 55,000 195
Training Ground	Valencia Sports City, Paterna, Spain 137
Chairman	Roig 179
General Manager	Javier Subirats 180
Head Coach	Rafael Benítez 137
Primary Formation	4-2-3-1 186
Major Sponsors	Nike Europe (kit sponsor); Toyota Motors (shirt/chest sponsor) 180
First Appearance	Chapter 111

Background / History

Valencia’s modern competitive foundation was built across the tenures of Ranieri, Héctor Cúper, and Rafael Benítez. Ranieri established the base, Cúper led the club to two consecutive Champions League finals, and Benítez inherited a side with a strong defensive and midfield core but a chronic shortage of reliable center-forwards 178.

Before the 2003–04 campaign, Valencia had won five La Liga titles, six domestic cups, two Super Cups, one European Cup Winners’ Cup, and one Toto Cup. The club had never won the Champions League despite reaching two finals under Cúper, losing to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich 208 178.

Valencia’s offensive limitations were stark during their previous league title: despite winning La Liga, they scored only 47 goals, seventh-most in the division. Benítez rotated Carew, Mista, Sánchez, and Salva, but none fully met his requirements for the position 137.

Roig’s return as chairman brought a new sporting direction. Backed by Subirats and Benítez, the club made Su Dong its priority signing rather than pursuing established stars such as Ruud van Nistelrooy or David Trezeguet 175. Su Dong joined from Sporting Lisbon after Valencia committed to making him a key player 180 181.

Club Structure & Facilities

Valencia Sports City is located in Paterna, in the northwestern outskirts of Valencia. The complex contains three low-rise training buildings, seven standard football pitches, smaller pitches, and additional training grounds used by both the first team and youth academy 137.

The club’s leadership structure during the 2003–04 season centered on Roig, general manager Javier Subirats, and head coach Rafael Benítez. Subirats was responsible for managing the transition in the club’s administration and negotiating major transfers, including Su Dong’s arrival 180.

Captaincy

Role	Holder	Notes
Captain	David Albelda	Elected unanimously; a Valencia youth product and recognized locker-room leader 183
Vice-Captain	David Baraja	Won the vice-captaincy over veteran Amedeo Carboni 183

Albelda and Baraja’s election reinforced the influence of Valencia’s domestic core. Their partnership in defensive midfield also made them the team’s principal on-field leaders 183.

Tactics

Benítez primarily deployed a 4-2-3-1, a flexible structure capable of supporting defensive counterattacks, high pressing, possession football, or more aggressive attacking play depending on the squad and opponent 186.

Valencia’s system was built around a powerful double pivot, usually Albelda and Baraja, which allowed the side to press high, control central areas, and keep the defensive line advanced 185.

Benítez wanted his center-forward to fulfill several roles at once:

• Occupy and physically engage opposing defenders.
• Link play with wingers and attacking midfielders.
• Drop into midfield to receive possession.
• Make runs into the penalty area.
• Finish chances consistently. 137

Su Dong’s arrival allowed Benítez to build an attacking unit around him, Aimar, and Vicente. The trio trained and played together to develop quick combinations, particularly through Valencia’s left side 185.

Defensive Identity

Valencia’s defensive strength predated Benítez, having been shaped through the approaches of Ranieri, Cúper, and Benítez. The side relied on its organized back line, disciplined midfield screen, and experienced goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares 259 212.

The team’s defensive stability enabled it to withstand periods of pressure against stronger opponents, while the double pivot gradually reasserted control in midfield 259.

2003–04 Season

Pre-Season and Early Form

Valencia prepared for the season at a closed training camp in Nyon, Switzerland, where Benítez imposed demanding tactical and physical standards 184 185.

The team’s early warm-up results included:

• 10–0 vs. Chenois — Su Dong scored twice and made one assist. 185
• 4–0 vs. Swiss opposition — Su Dong scored once. 185
• 1–0 vs. Feyenoord — Valencia won away despite still building match fitness. 185
• 2–0 vs. Liverpool — Valencia won away, with Su Dong assisting the opening goal. 185

Valencia opened the league campaign strongly. Su Dong scored twice on his La Liga debut against Valladolid to secure a 2–1 victory, immediately establishing himself as the side’s central attacking threat 195.

Champions League Campaign

Valencia were drawn with Inter Milan, Marseille, and Club Brugge in a group widely considered a “group of death,” as all four clubs had previously reached the Champions League final 194.

Despite an early 0–1 defeat away to Club Brugge, Valencia progressed from the group as winners 217 232. Aimar and Su Dong repeatedly combined in decisive moments, including an 87th-minute headed winner against Brugge that secured a vital group-stage victory 222.

Valencia eliminated Bayern Munich 4–1 on aggregate in the Round of 16, with Su Dong scoring twice across the tie 262. The club later reached the final against Porto after a 0–0 draw away to Monaco in the semi-final second leg 281.

In the final, Su Dong extended Valencia’s lead to 2–0 in the 58th minute with a solo goal featuring a sudden stop, Marseille Turn, and feint that beat Porto’s defenders and goalkeeper 296.

La Liga Title Race

Valencia’s consistent league form gave them a substantial advantage over Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruña. The team led by ten points after 28 rounds and later extended the gap further as rivals dropped points 262 270.

The club’s attack was transformed by Su Dong, whose scoring and playmaking addressed the long-standing center-forward problem. By late in the season, he had scored 34 league goals, while Valencia’s attacking trio of Su Dong, Vicente, and Aimar was regarded as the team’s most potent unit 285.

Valencia were confirmed as La Liga champions before their late-season match against Villarreal 284.

Financial Position

Despite Roig’s wealth, Valencia lacked the financial depth of Europe’s richest clubs. The chairman was only the majority shareholder and remained constrained by other shareholders, making it difficult to retain sought-after players and maintain elite depth across every position 224 235.

The club’s dependence on sponsorship income was significant. Nike Europe and Toyota Motors together contributed more than €10 million annually, and both companies closely monitored Valencia’s pursuit of Su Dong due to his commercial value 180.

Valencia’s limited finances also affected squad planning:

• The club prioritized La Liga and the Champions League over the Copa del Rey, often using reserves in domestic cup matches. 232 235
• Injuries to key starters, particularly Aimar, exposed a lack of equivalent replacements. 270 275
• Transfer interest in players such as Aimar and Ayala posed a recurring risk to the team’s long-term strength. 224

Relationships

• Real Madrid — Bitter rivals following Real Madrid’s pursuit and eventual signing of Mijatović through his release clause. Valencia subsequently adopted an “Anti-Real Madrid Clause” in major contracts and transfers. 228
• Villarreal — City rivals often characterized as Valencia’s “younger brother”; Valencia chairman Roig is the older brother of Villarreal chairman Fernando Roig. 236
• Rafael Benítez — Head coach who rebuilt Valencia’s attack around a demanding, high-pressing 4-2-3-1 system and viewed Su Dong as the ideal center-forward. 137 185
• Javier Subirats — General manager who helped secure Su Dong’s transfer and managed the club’s post-election sporting operations. 175 180
• Nike Europe — Kit sponsor that supported Su Dong’s transfer and offered increased sponsorship payments if the deal was completed. 180
• Toyota Motors — Major shirt/chest sponsor and one of the club’s largest income sources. 180

Trivia

• Valencia’s clashes with Real Madrid are treated by the club and supporters as more intense than an ordinary derby because of the Mijatović transfer dispute. 206 228
• The club’s historic lack of a top scorer was a recurring concern: after Mijatović’s departure, Claudio López’s 21-goal league season was the only major exception before Su Dong’s arrival. 227
• Su Dong’s rapid impact led Valencia supporters to call him the “Little God of War.” 190