Contents
- 1 Goalkeeper – Santiago Canizares
- 2 Left-back – Amedeo Carboni
- 3 Centre-back – Roberto Ayala
- 4 Centre-back – Carlos Marchena
- 5 Right-back Miguel Angel Angulo
- 6 Central midfield – David Albelda
- 7 Central midfield – Ruben Baraja
- 8 Left attacking midfield – Vicente
- 9 Central attacking midfield – David Silva
- 10 Right attacking midfield – Pablo Aimar
- 11 Striker – David Villa
Goalkeeper – Santiago Canizares
Left-back – Amedeo Carboni
Centre-back – Roberto Ayala
Centre-back – Carlos Marchena
Just like Ayala, Marchena was a no-nonsense and aggressive type of centre-back, who had all the qualities as a defender. Although his partnership with the Argentine was over in 2007, he carried on playing for a further three campaigns. Marchena was a tough and robust individual for attackers to beat, he was fantastic at reading the game and could sense any danger before it became a bigger problem. The Spaniard completed over 300 appearances in all competitions, during his nine years at the Mestalla.
Right-back Miguel Angel Angulo
Central midfield – David Albelda
If there is one player that has to be named as the rock in midfield when Valencia were successful, it has to be none other than David Albelda. The Spaniard who spent his early years as a centre-back, was a no-nonsense defensive midfielder that played an essential role for Los Che as well as being a player that other individuals looked up to for inspiration. In the summer of 2001, Albelda was rewarded with the club captaincy as he made over 400 appearances during his 17 years at Valencia.
Albelda formed an impressive and inseparable partnership with Ruben Baraja at the heart of midfield. Similar to the other experienced players, he faced a difficult time when Ronald Koeman became the manager of the club as he was taken out from the squad. Once he gradually returned into the starting XI, he played regular football for another two seasons, but it was too late as he was losing his confidence and touch.