It has been 13 long years since undoubtedly one of the best days in Valencia’s recent history.
When a Rafa Benitez-led Los Che beat Malaga at La Rosaleda to win their first La Liga in 31 years in 2002, it was a time when trophies and titles came easy to the men from the Mestalla.
A steep decline followed until two third-placed finishes in 2009/10 and 2010/11 gave supporters hope that the glory days would soon return. However, that notion was swiftly debunked.
The sales of David Villa (to Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City) and Juan Mata (Chelsea) meant that the three best players at the club had been sold in quick succession purely to service debt.
In the eyes of the working man who pays his hard-earned euro, there aren’t too many more heinous crimes than when your club sells off its crown jewels with little or nothing reinvested in return.
It was therefore with suspicious minds that followers of Valencia reacted to the news that Singaporean businessman Peter Lim had secured a controlling interest in the club in May last year.
The negotiations had been long and difficult, but a sign of Lim’s commitment was that he stayed true to his word throughout, despite initial opposition to any deal by Bankia, the club’s previous owners.
A tenuous feelgood factor began to return in the locale.
Would it be another false dawn or could the injection of cash and some studious financial and management decisions finally see the good times back again?
Potentially the best appointment made is that of manager Nuno Espirito Santo, employed since July after the sacking of Juan Antonio Pizzi.
Never really a household name during his playing career as a goalkeeper, his tenure in Spain consisted of a handful of appearances for Deportivo La Coruna, followed by loan stints at Spanish second division club Merida (where he won the Zamora Trophy for fewest goals conceded) and Osasuna.
Stop-offs in Portugal and Russia were other highlights of a journeyman existence.
Fast forward to a management career that is in stark contrast to that from his playing days.
Taking Rio Ave to the Portuguese Cup and League Cup finals as well as into the Uefa Europa League for the first time in their history was enough to pique the interest of Valencia.
And we’ve seen already that he is more than up to the task in Spain’s top division.
Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla have all been put to the sword by an intoxicating mix of high-quality counter-attacking play aligned to a steely core, of which Santo himself would be proud.
Only Barcelona, with a fortuitous 94th-minute Sergio Busquets goal, have left the Mestalla with three points.
Whilst a La Liga title will be beyond them this season, a Champions League spot is most definitely within their reach.
With Lim’s backing, it’s almost certain that the core of the squad from this season will remain — so maybe it’s time for the Valencianistas to get excited after all.
— The writer is a freelance journalist and Spanish football expert
