Valencia enjoyed great success as early as the early 2000s under Rafa Benítez. Under Rafa, Valencia won two league titles and a UEFA Cup before the Spaniard resigned over differences with the director of football. Since, the club have been in decline and even turmoil.
Despite having the fifth biggest stadium in La Liga with similar attendance to Stamford Bridge, the club’s finances have caused issues. This saw Peter Lim buy the club in 2014 for around 100 million euros. At the time he was seen as a saviour but since, opinions have changed.
In the six years under his ownership, the club have gone through six permanent managers and six directors of football. This is similar to the six chaotic years before Lim’s takeover. This alongside another disappointing season in which Valencia have failed to qualify for the Champions League again has seen the club take cost cutting measures.
Star players like Rodrigo, Ferran Torres and Francis Coquelin have been sold whilst Dani Parejo was allowed to join rivals Villarreal for free despite being captain since 2014. The club have brought in over £50 million in player sales but at the time of writing, are yet to bring in a single player. It is also rumoured that the clear out will continue with more key players up for sale.
As recently as 2018/19, it looked like Valencia were putting their bad business in the past. The Murciélagos were coming off their second season under Marcelino and their second consecutive fourth placed finish. Not only this but they also beat Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final to win their first trophy since 2008.
Lim didn’t see winning the trophy as a success as it put his objective (finishing in the top four) at risk. Marcelino was sacked not long after meaning the manager that could deliver Champions League football was gone.
Valencia is the third biggest city in Spain. This means that there is a huge pool of young talent they can snap up. The club is known for developing young players such as David Silva, Albiol, Isco, Gayà, Ferran Torres, Paco Alcácer, Bernat and Nolito all being recent graduates. As the club struggles financially, they will have to trust in the youth to replace their outgoing stars.
Valencia are in a downward spiral with no continuity on or off the pitch. Fans want Peter Lim out but if he is to stay, he’ll have to rebuild his relationship with the fans and get the club back to being Spain’s third club.
Football Opinions 