Valencia

FC Valencia was created in spring of 1919. The creators of the club were two big friends and a simple flip of coin decided on selection of a president. The first match of the club was held on May 21, 1919 against ‘Gimnastico’ and Valencia lost 0-1.

Valencia moved to its current stadium only after playing a few seasons on Algiros pitch as there had been only one stand at Mestalla at that time.

In 1923 the ‘bats’ won the regional championship of Spain and went through to the Spanish Cup but they lost to Sporting in the first round with the total score 8-2 after three matches as they had to win two matches at that time.

During the civil war the team stopped playing until 1940 when Luis Casanova, a famous coach of the time, joined the club. In 1941 the club becomes third in the Primera and wins the Copa del Rey. The following season they triumphed in the country.

The 1940s were the most successful years in the club’s history as they were on equal terms with such clubs as Barcelona and Real Madrid. They became champions of the country in 1944 and 1947, runners-up in 1948 and 1949, third in 1941. They won the Copa del Rey in 1941 and 1948 and lost in the finals of 1944, 1945 and 1946. The attacking line of the club was literally terrifying the defence of their rivals with such strikers as Asensi, Amadeo, Epi, Gorostiza, Mundo in the squad.

When Rafael Benitez was set to be the manager of the team in 2001 the club won the championship at once. In 2004 the club managed to repeat the success and add the UEFA Cup title. Then Liverpool was the club to intercept the manager so Claudio Ranieri was meant to substitute the loss. He wasn’t as good as he had been before and Valencia produced pale performance. Nowadays Valencia is one of the best teams in Spain yet recklessly falling behind Barcelona and Real Madrid.