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Valencia thumbnail sketches
Posted: Wed May 24, 2000 at 9:04 a.m EDT CoachHector Cuper (ARG) - first season 18-10-10 league record 8-4-4 in Champions League Was under heavy criticism for Valencia's poor start to the season - only success early in the Champions League saved his job.. Was able to turn around the fortunes of the team by stern talks and motivational speeches.. Played at Ferrocarril Oeste and Huracan. Became coach at Huracan in 1992.. Also coached Lanus - where he won the Copa CONMEBOL in 1997.. Moved to Mallorca where he was runner-up in the 1998 Copa del Rey, 1999 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and won a Supercup.. Played a defensive style of football last season and relied on the counterattack.. Has perfected the counterattack this season with Valencia.. His move to Valencia came with much anticipation. Probable Starters Goalkeeper Santiago Canizares - No. 1, 31 years old, second season Current National Team Goalkeeper.. Injured earlier this season and had to fight to displace backup Andres Palop upon his return. Was thought to have a twisted right ankle - but was diagnosed to have a 1 inch crack on his right shin.. His leg was in a cast for 6 weeks.. Had an outstanding season last season - played in every minute of every match.. Is known for one game, the 1993 World Cup qualifier vs. Denmark, in which he made a miraculous save that lifted Spain to a 1-0 victory after Zubizarreta was sent off in the 11th minute..Had been the backup ever since, until Zubi's retirement two years ago.. Was sent to Valencia in 1998 as Real Madrid still favored Illgner as its starter.. He is very calm and composed, and his tranquility eases the nerves of his teammates.. Is very talented in the air and can make the spectacular save. Defenders Jocelyn Angloma (FRA) - No. 20, 34 years old, third season Best right back in the Spanish League this season.. One of the fastest players in the league, he can cover 100 meters in less than 11 seconds.. Tends to dominate the right side of the field.. Has also played in the middle with much success.. Has a strong right footed shot.. Maintains an excellent physical condition for his age.. French international. Played in Euro '92 and Euro '96.. Won the European Cup with Marseille in 1993.. From the island of Guadalupe.. Miroslav Djukic (YUG) - No. 5, 34 years old, third season Consistent central defender - who has emerged as one of the classiest players in the league.. Played for Yugoslavia before the War (2 caps), he played for RAD Belgrade.. Played at Deportivo La Coruna for 7 years from 1990-977, before joining Valencia in summer 1997 on the Bosman ruling.. Member of the 1998 World Cup team - but did not play. Missed a 90th minute penalty kick on the final day of the 1994 season for Deportivo against Valencia, a miss that cost Deportivo a league title.. Experienced a bit of vindication when Deportivo clinched their first league title on Friday.. Big fan of Franz Beckenbauer.. His identification with Deportivo is so well known in Yugoslavia that there is a bar named "Riazor" in his hometown. Mauricio Pellegrino (ARG) - No. 2, 28 years old, first season Has been one of the top defenders in the league this season. Had an unsuccessful stint with Barcelona and returned to Velez Sarsfield at the end of last season. Signed by Valencia just 3 minutes before the transfer deadline to start the season.. Calm and confident central defender who rarely makes mistakes.. Had his first league goal taken away on Friday against Zaragoza when the goal was ruled to be an own goal. Gerardo - No. 31, 25 years old, first season Is the likely replacement for the suspended Amedeo Carboni at the left back position as both Fagiani and Bjorklund are out of favor.. Midseason signee from second division side Villarreal, which played in first division in 1998-99.. Has played well for Cuper in a reserve role.. Usually used a defensive midfielder.. Originally came through the youth ranks of Real Madrid. A hard working, offensive minded player who will push into the attack.. Midfielders Gaizka Mendieta - No. 6, 26 years old, seventh season Captain of the team. Scored in each leg of the semifinal against Barcelona. Led the team in league goals this season and his five goals in Champions League tie him for the team lead with Claudio Lopez.. Expert penalty taker. Had a breakout season in 1997-98 with 10 goals and continued his damage last season with another seven.. A midfield destroyer who saw his play improve dramatically last year - he is now one of the most complete midfielders in Spain.. Made his international debut in the Spring as a sub vs. Austria in a 9-0 win in Valencia.. Scored his first international goal vs. San Marino in June in a 9-0 win.. Is very dangerous on the wing and can serve the ball into the middle with accuracy.. Son of Andres Mendieta, a goalkeeper in the 1970's with Real Madrid, Rayo Vallecano, Deportivo and Castellon. His idol is Ruud Gullit.. Now a consistent Spanish international. Francisco Farinos - No. 8, 22 years old, fourth season Had an excellent season last year - he is still developing and still has promise.. Has struggled at times this season, but recently has settled into good form in the defensive midfield. Generous player who loves to set up his forward teammates. Versatile midfielder who can play any of the four midfield positions.. Very hard worker and sacrifices himself for the team.. Hard shot with his right foot, can also take free kicks and penalties.. Good vision, precise passes and skill are also a part of his game.. Compensates for his lack of experience with a good personality and is well liked among his teammates.. Played in the Under-20 World Cup in Malaysia in 1997.. Gerard - No. 14, 21 years old, second season Smart, classy and confident player. Has been in excellent form for both Valencia and the Spanish Under-21 side.. Started his career under Johan Cruyff at Barcelona.. Has very good vision, tactical awareness and passing skills. One of the top young players in Spain.. Played in the Under- 20 World Cup in Malaysia in 1997.. His father and grandfather both played professionally, his father for Lleida and Barcelona. Kily Gonzalez (ARG) - No. 18, 25 years old, first season Fixture on the left side of midfield for Cuper. Had an outstanding season last year with Zaragoza.. Now an Argentine International under Bielsa. Played in all 4 matches at Copa America 99 - scored a goal vs. Uruguay.. A player with extraordinary skill.. Left sided interior midfielder.. Defends and attacks very well - a good two way player.. Plays with a lot of character and personality. Forwards Claudio Lopez (ARG) - No. 7, 25 years old, fourth season Is set to leave for Lazio at the end of the season. Struggled earlier this season and was benched by Cuper in a confidence building move. Has been on a scoring tear this spring. Has five goals and five assists this season in Champions League.. Waived good-bye to the Valencia fans during the home season finale on Friday vs. Zaragoza. Dominant force in Spain last year with 21 goals in the league and eight in Copa del Rey. Speedy forward to have on the counterattack.. Argentine International - played in all five matches in France '98 for Argentina -scoring the lone goal vs. Holland in the quarterfinals. Member of 1996 Olympic team - scoring three goals in Atlanta.. Had been hampered by minor injuries to his right ankle and to his right knee earlier this season. Miguel Angel Angulo - No. 10, 22 years old, third season Has been in excellent form recently. Will drop back into the midfield for defensive purposes.. Played in just about every position on the field - right back, defensive midfield, central midfield, forward - and he played each one well.. Became a goalscoring force early in the 1998-99 season when three of his goals gave Valencia 1-0 victories.. A forward who will move all over the front line over the course of the game.. Member of the Under-20 National team in Malaysia.. Also was a member of the Spanish European Champion Under-18 squad where he was a dominant player. Has good speed and good field vision.. Current Spanish Under-21 international. Substitutes Andres Palop - No 26, 26 years old, first season Experienced backup who played at Villarreal the last two seasons. Came through the youth ranks of Valencia.. Was brilliant while filling in for the injured Canizares last fall - started 15 league matches and seven Champions League matches. One of the most promising goalkeepers in the league last season with Villarreal.. Brave in the air. Posseses excellent agility and reflexes. Joachim Bjorklund (SWE) - No. 3, 29 years old, second season Can play central defender or right back. Was a candidate to replace Carboni at the left back position, but Cuper is worried about his speed.. Veteran Swedish International who started 6 of 7 games for 3rd place Sweden in World Cup '94.. Spent two seasons with Glasgow Rangers.. Experienced in UEFA with both Goteborg and Glasgow. Daniel Fagiani (ARG) - No. 24, 26 years old, first season Has stuggled at times this season and has lost the confidece of Cuper. Argentine defender who has played the last 5 years with Newell's Old Boys.. One of the top left backs in recent seasons in Argentina.. Confident defender who loves to not only jump into the attack, but finish and score goals. Known for excellent crosses and ability to change the attack.. Has European citizenship due to his Italian ancestry. Luis Milla - No. 21, 34 years old, third season One of the classiest players of the decade in Spain.. Had an excellent season last year when many thought he was nearing the end of his career. Has since given way to the youthful midfield at Valencia.. An underrated player throughout his career.. Not spectacular, but does much of the unnoticed dirty work. Will play in front of the defense and organize the midfield and start the attack.. Likes to play a short passing game, although is able to create chances with the long ball. Spent seven season at Real Madrid (1990-97). Adrian Ilie (ROM) - No. 11, 26 years old, third season Injury problems plagued him the last two seasons. Has been left on the bench recently by Hector Cuper.. Is an excellent complement to Claudio Lopez.. Will give a soft touch and then unleash a powerful shot.. Combines skill, power and pace in the counterattack.. Played in all four matches at France '98, scoring the winning goal vs. Colombia.. Free kick specilaist with a deadly left foot.. Considered the great hope of Romanian Football. Quick.. His signing was the highest ever for a Romanian player. Juan Sanchez - No. 17, 28 years old, first season Gives Cuper added depth along the front line.. Led Celta Vigo in scoring in 1997-98 and had 13 goals last year.. Very opportunistic center forward.. Good goalscorer who is very brave in taking on defenders.. Returned to Valencia where he started his career in 1992-93. Oscar - No. 9, 27 years old, first season Brother of Roger - both grew up in the youth ranks of Barcelona.. Had his breakout season in 1995-96, scoring 10 goals.. Very powerful shot with either foot. Offensive midfielder who can also play up front as a withdrawn forward.. He and his brother Roger were not happy with Van Gaal last season - his brother has since been sent to Espanyol.. Loves to operate at the top of the penalty area and find his shot. © 2003 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
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