2006–07 Valencia CF season

Valencia CF
2006-07 season
Manager Quique Sánchez Flores
Stadium Mestalla Stadium
La Liga 4th
Champions League Quarter-finals
Copa del Rey Round of 16
Top goalscorer League:
David Villa (16)

All:
David Villa (20)
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours

During the 2006–07 Spanish football season, Valencia CF competed in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.

Overview

Valencia made significant changes for the season, with coach Quique Sánchez Flores and technical director Amedeo Carboni overhauling the squad. Players who did not fit in the current playing system, such as Marco Di Vaio, Bernardo Corradi, Pablo Aimar, Rufete, and Mista, were some of those who were sold, while Fábio Aurélio signed for Liverpool (reuniting with former Valencia manager Rafael Benítez) after refusing an extension to his contract. To strengthen the squad, Valencia signed Joaquin, Asier del Horno, Fernando Morientes and Francesco Tavano, as well as recalling David Silva and Jaime Gavilán from loan spells, and promoting several youngsters from the Valencia B squad. The club's transfer activity was not wholly successful, however: the club failed in an attempt to sign Benfica winger Simão, while veteran defender Roberto Ayala expressed his desire to sign for rivals Villarreal.

Valencia started the season strongly, winning their first three Champions League matches, against Olympiacos, Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk. The team qualified to pass on to the next round in a 2–2 draw against Shaktar on Matchday Four. On 15 December, Valencia were drawn to play against Italian champions Inter Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the first leg scheduled to take place on 21 February. In La Liga, Valencia started the season with victories against Real Betis, Atlético Madrid, Getafe and Gimnàstic de Tarragona, along with a creditable draw with reigning Liga champions Barcelona. As of 1 October, Valencia were second, behind Barcelona on goal difference. However, they went through a slump in November which caused them to slip up in the league. The first of six winless matches started with a 1–0 defeat to Racing de Santander. This poor run was attributed to injuries to key players like captain David Albelda, midfielder Rubén Baraja, wingers Jaime Gavilán and Vicente, defenders Carlos Marchena and Asier del Horno and forward Francesco Tavano. Despite all these worries, the team is made a strong comeback, winning their last three matches before the winter break (against Deportivo de La Coruña, Real Zaragoza and Mallorca).

Squad

Squad at end of season[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Spain GK Santiago Cañizares
2 Portugal DF Miguel
3 Spain DF Asier del Horno
4 Argentina DF Roberto Ayala
5 Spain DF Carlos Marchena
6 Spain MF David Albelda (captain)
7 Spain FW David Villa
8 Spain MF Rubén Baraja
9 Spain FW Fernando Morientes
10 Spain FW Miguel Ángel Angulo
11 Uruguay MF Mario Regueiro
13 Spain GK Juan Luis Mora
14 Spain MF Vicente
15 Spain MF Joaquín
16 Portugal MF Hugo Viana
17 Spain DF David Navarro
18 Spain MF Jorge López
19 Spain MF Jaime Gavilán
20 Spain MF Raúl Albiol
No. Position Player
21 Spain MF David Silva
22 Brazil MF Edu
23 Spain DF Curro Torres
24 Italy DF Emiliano Moretti
25 France GK Ludovic Butelle
26 Spain DF Cerra
27 Spain MF Pablo Hernández
28 Spain MF Natxo Insa
29 Spain DF David Córcoles
30 Spain MF Aarón
31 Spain MF Miguel Pallardó
32 Spain DF Cristian Castells
33 Spain DF Berna
34 Spain FW Javi Guerra
35 Spain GK Vicente Guaita
36 Spain MF Ángel Montoro
37 Spain DF Álex Vaquero
38 Spain MF Vicente Romero
39 Spain MF Carles

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
12 Italy MF Stefano Fiore (on loan to Torino)
No. Position Player
12 Italy FW Francesco Tavano (on loan to Roma)

Transfers

In

Out

References

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