Football club "Valencia". Mestaglia Stadium

Valencia is the third city in Spain. By size, by population, by volume of economy. It is not surprising, therefore, that she is third in achievements in Spanish football. Unless, of course, the trophies of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are put together (to the displeasure of the fans of the mattresses, of course).

Town

All that Spain has experienced is the city of Valencia. And the colonies of the ancient Greeks and Carthaginians, and the invasion of the Lusitans, and the Roman Empire, during which the city arose, and the campaign of Hannibal’s troops in Rome, the advent of the Ostrogoth barbarians, and the conquest of the Arabs, and the Spanish Reconquista, and their own separate kingdom, and economic dawn after the discovery of America, and the horrors of the Inquisition, when local Jews, who made up at least a third of the city’s population, and fanatical resistance to Napoleon’s troops, and the civil war of the 30s of the twentieth century, when in fact was located in Valencia, were subjected to persecution the government of Republican Spain ... In football, the city of Valencia also reaped everything that fell to the country.

Football club

The football club Valencia appeared in 1919, as elsewhere, on the shoulders, legs and heads of football enthusiasts. Their love for this game was so strong that the enthusiasm did not fade away, but turned into a professional channel. Already in 1923, the team won the regional championship and gained the right to play in the national final stage. Alas, it ended unsuccessfully for the team, but Valencia football confidently continued the progressive upward movement, which was interrupted by the civil war.

However, already in the 40s, the golden age of Valencia came. Three of the six championship titles were won just then. The main reasons were the “electric attack” of the double-ve system, consisting of Mundo, Gorostissa, Epi, Amadeo and Asensi, as well as club president Luis Kasanova, who is considered the club’s best president in history.

In the 50-60s, “Valencia” no longer drove the “Real”, “Barcelona” and “Atletico” with “Athletic” in the tail and mane. They rather chased her, but the level of Spanish club football was so high that Valencia achieved success in the European arena. Two conquered Fairs Cups are proof of this. European Victoria strengthened confidence in their abilities and in the domestic arena. In the 70s, “Valencia” twice becomes a champion, wins the Spanish Cup and Cup of Cups. It was at this time that the club had a tradition of inviting famous coaches to work. The composition of “Valencia” could not boast of its stardom, and therefore coaches had to compensate for this with their professionalism. Sometimes it succeeded.

Unfortunately, in the 80s, at some stage, the balance was upset. “Valencia” mired in debt and not only sank to the bottom of the standings, but in 1986 and completely flew out of the Examples.

In the late 80s, the club returned to the elite, and a new successful stage began in the 90s: on the eve of the 2000s, Valencia won the Spanish Cup.

In 2000, Valencia made its debut in the Champions League and reached the final, in 2002 became the champion of Spain (for the last time), in 2004 won the UEFA Cup.

In the second half of the 2000s and 2010s, it was not so successful: the team almost “bronzed”, taking 3-5th places. Given that above the “Real” (Madrid) and “Barcelona”, this is not so bad.

However, knowing the love of football in Valencia, we have no doubt that the local main club (in Valencia there is also Levante, as well as a basketball team) will still show itself. The last season, by the way, is optimistic - 4th place. What are we watching video about.

Stadium

The "house" of "Valencia" - the stadium "Mestaglia" - has long been not just a stadium, but a landmark of the city. Although without it, Valencia lacks architectural and historical masterpieces.

The stadium is named after the name of the irrigation canal dug from the Turia river. Mestaglia, like Spain, has experienced a lot like the city. The first test was a civil war. More precisely, its consequences. The shelling of the city almost destroyed the stadium. Immediately after the war, during the Franco purges, they set up a filtration camp for suspicious people.

In general, the stadium has always met the requirements of the time. Unless, at the very beginning, this was not so. The “newborn” Valencia stadium consisted of a rough wooden rostrum and a bare earthen field, but then the Valencian love of football was transferred to the stadium. He was constantly being rebuilt, increased, improved. In general, grew up with the club. It is not surprising that in the end he became one of the best in Spain. Because of this, the significant international football competitions held in Spain fell and “Mestalla”. During the 1982 World Cup, Spain played their three matches here. During the 1992 Olympic Games, group stage matches, a quarter-final match and a semi-final were held here.

Together with the outward appearance, Mestaglia also tried to change the name. In 1968, in honor of the best president of Valencia, she began to be called "Luis Casanova," but at the request of Luis Casanova herself she returned to her previous name.

The last reconstruction in 2001 for the Champions League matches, which allowed to increase the capacity of the Valencia stadium to 53,000 seats. Unfortunately, rebuilding the old to infinity is impossible. Therefore, the project of “New Mestalla” (“Nuevo Mestalla”) arose. In general, already ten years, “Valencia” should already play in the new 55 thousandth stadium. However, the global economic crisis has brutally treated Spain: the stadium has not yet been built. Moreover, four people have already died at the construction site. The Valencia stadium, like the team, now can only hope for the best. After all, the love of football, as Valencian practice shows, can overpower everything.

Dossier

1. Valencia (Spain) València Club de Futbol
2. Nicknames - “Bats”, “Orange”.
3. It was founded in 1919.
4. FC Valencia Stadium: Mestalla (55,000 seats).
5. Colors: red, yellow.

Achievements

1. Champion of Spain 1942, 1944, 1947, 1971, 2002, 2004.
2. Silver medalist of the Spanish Championship 1948, 1949, 1953, 1972, 1990, 1996.
3. Seven-time winner of the Spanish Cup.
4. Tenfold finalist of the Spanish Cup.
5. Winner of the Spanish Super Cup 1999.
6. Finalist of the Spanish Super Cup 2002, 2004, 2008.
7. Finalist of the Champions League 2000, 2001.
8. UEFA Cup Winner: 2004.
9. Winner of the 1980 Cup.
10. Winner of the UEFA Super Cup 1980, 2004.
11. Winner of the Fair Cup 1962, 1963.
12. Finalist of the 1964 Fair Cup.
13. Winner of the 1998 Intertoto Cup .

The composition of “Valencia” in the season 2017-2018

The head coach is Marcelino Garcia Toral.