Challenges The Valencia CF Challenge - The Benítez Years

[danovic78]

The Valencia CF Challenge - The Benítez Years

Thanks to @billy2shots for inspiring this challenge, he posted similar one a few years ago.

When the final whistle blew on a mild night in Gothenburg’s Ullevi stadium, there was an overwhelming sense amongst everyone connected with Valencia that they had achieved something really quite special.

It was May 19, 2004, and Rafael Benítez’s Valencia had just completed a famous doblete by beating Marseille in the final of the UEFA Cup, adding to the La Liga trophy they had secured two weeks earlier. The game in itself was unspectacular, Valencia running out fairly comfortable 2-0 winners after a characteristic moment of madness from Fabien Barthez had reduced the French side to ten men with more than 45 minutes to play.

It is worth remembering that when Benítez took the job in 2001, he was taking over what was already a very decent side. Valencia, under Héctor Cúper, had reached successive Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001, losing to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively, with the latter defeat only coming on penalties after the two sides could not be separated. However, their league form under Cúper had been less impressive – a third place finish in 2000 was followed up by the huge disappointment of missing out on Champions League qualification when they ended the 2000-01 campaign in fifth. Valencia were desperate to end their thirty year wait for a La Liga title and, after Cúper left for Inter Milan, they turned to Rafael Benítez, a young manager with a burgeoning reputation who had just achieved promotion from the Segunda División with Tenerífe.

What Benítez would go on to achieve in three years at Valencia, winning La Liga twice, as well as that UEFA Cup victory, was remarkable for a number of reasons. Firstly, this was a young manager who had never managed a top side before, certainly not one with aspirations to be champions, and whose recent jobs had been largely with teams in the Segunda División. Secondly, Benítez was by no means a unanimous choice amongst fans, and faced a degree of hostility from the outset from those who had expected a more proven manager to be appointed – in fact, in a recent interview, Benítez admitted that he was on the verge of being sacked as early as December, with only a late comeback against Espanyol, to whom they were two goals down, saving his job.

Can you replicate the success at Valencia?

RULES

• Load up Spain and any other countries you like.
• Take over at Valencia.
• Key to Valenica's success was built on a solid foundation, you must replicate this by using/buying a Spanish GK (Cañizares), Argetintian CB (Pellegrino/Ayala), Argentinian Attacking Midfielder (Aimar/Kily González) and Spanish Striker (Juan Sánchez)
• You seasonal points will be purely based on all the appearances for the above 4 players plus bonus points for winning trophies.
• Bonus points for trophies won -
  • La Liga - 50 points
  • Copa del Rey - 25 points
  • Spanish Super Cup - 25 points
  • Champions League - 50 points
  • Europa League - 30 points
  • European Super Cup - 25 points
  • FIFA World Club Cup - 25 points
• The challenge will last 3 seasons, the length of Benítez’ stay at Valencia.

LEADERBOARD

[Titjes]

Great challenge once again mate  

[Ashez]

Rafa Rafael Rafa Rafael Rafa Rafael Rafael Benitez!!!

[Woody]

1 hour ago, Ashez said:

Rafa Rafael Rafa Rafael Rafa Rafael Rafael Benitez!!!

Rafa Benitez' black 'n' white army!!!

[Ashez]

1 hour ago, Acidsparxx said:

Rafa Benitez' black 'n' white army!!!

Rafa's Reds!!

In all seriousness with money I see Rafa turning Newcastle into a Liverpool mark 2. All he needs to do is be able to attract the players, as Rafa can do incredible things with passionate support. Such a shame we had H+G during his run who continually screwed him over. 

[Woody]

11 minutes ago, Ashez said:

Rafa's Reds!!

In all seriousness with money I see Rafa turning Newcastle into a Liverpool mark 2. All he needs to do is be able to attract the players, as Rafa can do incredible things with passionate support. Such a shame we had H+G during his run who continually screwed him over. 

I sincerely hope so bud....Rafa's a legend.