Football in Valencia

Valencia CF (club de fútbol or football club in English) was founded in 1919 in a smoky bar. From the very beginning the club was fondly known by its fans as the 'Che'. The team began playing their football matches on a pitch in the Algirós part of the city. In 1923 they moved to what has been their home ever since, the Mestalla stadium. That same year the club competed in the Copa del Rey (Spanish cup) for the first time. It wasn't until the 1928-29 season that Valencia CF entered the Spanish Professional League.

During the war years (1936-1946) the club began to look to the future. The Mestalla stadium was redesigned and in 1941 their first piece of silverare arrived in the form of the Spanish cup. The following year they achieved greatness by winning their first league title. The 1960s saw Valencia CF step unto the European stage by winning the Fairs cup (today's Uefa cup). The 1970s were host to the first of Valencia CFs superstars. The legendary Alfredo di Stéfano took over as manager of the club and accordingly brought them another league title. Later on in the decade Mario Kempes graced the club with his skill and ambition. Kempes managed to score both of the goals in a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final in 1979 and in doing so became a folk hero among the club's fans.

By the beginning of the 1980s the 'Che' were conquering Europe with victories in the Cup Winners cup and the Super cup. Unfortunately the mid-eighties saw the club relegated from the Spanish first division. Guus Hiddink took over the club in the early 1990s in time to signal ambitious changes in the club. The 'Che' branched in to the business world and became a Limited Company identity. A platform was built that would become fruitful by the end of the century. 1999 was the beginning of a glorious run of victories and silverware for Valencia CF. They managed to secure both the Spanish cup and Super cup.

The new millennium was a golden time for the club. Apart from the fact that Valencia CF was unlucky to be the losing side in several Uefa Champions Leagues finals they succeeded in winning 2 Spanish league titles, 1 Uefa cup and 1 European Super cup. Their coach at the time, Rafa Benitez, proved to be the most successful they ever had. Contemporary legends for the club include Carboni, Mista, Vicente, Marchena, Albelda, Baraja, Cañizares and David Villa. The club is currently managed by Quique Sánchez Flores.

The other club in the city is Levante UD. They have recently been promoted to the Spanish First Division. When both of Valencia's rival teams are in the top flight it always makes for an exciting local derby match. Levante UD play their football in the Ciudad de Valencia stadium in the north of the city. Their star players include Irish international Ian Harte, Felix Ettien and Olivier Kapo.