Valencia CF and VCF Footballers Association present legends game

PINCHA AQUÍ PARA COMPRAR TUS ENTRADAS PARA EL ‘PARTIDO DEL TRIPLETE’

PINCHA AQUÍ PARA HACERTE SOCIO VCF Y TENER PRIORIDAD EN LA COMPRA DE ENTRADAS

Valencia CF and the VCF Footballers Association presented the legends game which will take place on Friday, April 5th, to commemorate the successes of 2004 on its twentieth anniversary. Players from the VCF squads in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons will play against a team of LALIGA stars selected by the AFE.

The event, which took place in the VIP Box at Mestalla, was attended by several footballers from the time, such as Rubén Baraja, Miguel Ángel Angulo, Vicente Rodríguez, David Navarro and Manuel Ruz.

VICENTE RODRIGUEZ

“Those unrepeatable years will always be in the fans' memories. The Valencia CF fans have always responded well, they show it game after game and that day we knew that if we won we would be league champions. It all worked out."

.MIGUEL ÁNGEL ANGULO

“I used to score 6-7 goals per season, and that year I was able to contribute everything that was expected of me and help the team. There are many images in my head of the final in Seville, seeing the fans so excited, how they supported us and transmitted that excitement to us."

DAVID NAVARRO

“On a defensive level we were very strong, but in general we were a very solid group, which was one of the keys to our success. We were a team that mixed youth with experience and that worked very well.”

MANUEL RUZ

“For a youth player, who had started at Valencia CF when he was 7 years old, it was a dream that I was able to fulfill. I retired at a young age due to problems with my knee, but to play at Mestalla again and for my children to see me play is very exciting, and also the day of the game will be my birthday. I remember it all with great nostalgia."

After the players, it was the turn of those people who, as club employees, played a fundamental role in the team. Txemanu (kitman), 'Serreta' (kitman), Andreu Gramaje (physiotherapist), Pepe de los Santos (ATS), José Manuel Otxotorena (goalkeeper coach), Manolo Maciá (delegate and Paco Vidal (medical staff), relived many memories and were part of a round of applause for the late Bernardo España 'Españeta'.

Although he could not physically attend, there was no shortage of anecdotes related to Rafa Benítez, coach of the team, and former president Jaume Ortí, was represented by his son.

AN INITIATIVE BETWEEN VALENCIA CF AND THE VCF FOOTBALLERS' ASSOCIATION 

Fernando Giner, president of the Valencia CF Footballers Association, declared that “We are here to celebrate the 20th anniversary of an unrepeatable Valencia CF. The history of Valencia CF cannot be forgotten and the club have done everything possible to make this match happen. On April 5th we will all be able to enjoy seeing these players and the fans will enjoy seeing that great squad again. Practically all the stars of the treble will be there and we are going to enjoy it as much as we did in the Centenary match."

The AFE, which was represented by its General Director, Diego Ribas, along with Marcos Senna, announced some of the first players for the opposing team, coached by José Antonio Camacho and Fernando Zambrano: Marcos Senna, Salva Ballesta, Juanfran, Javier Saviola, Rubén de la Red, Javi Venta, Fernando Morientes and Juan Capdevila.

Current squad members Jesús Vázquez, Hugo González and Rubén Iranzo, bien between 2003 and 2004, were also in attendance for the presentation.