I trust you're enjoying the off-season with loads of transfer murmurings and pre-season fixtures coming up.
As we know the modern game is driven by money both on and off the field. The common thread of thinking is that you can't be successful without spending [wisely]. We find that most of Europe's top clubs are in debt, referred to as a manageable debt and they're therefore still able to compete at the highest level.
Just recently Glasgow Rangers, founded in 1872, were liquidated falling foul to an unmanageable debt crisis. The outcome of this debt crisis is the club has subsequently been renamed and demoted to the lowest division in Scottish football. Quite shambolic for a team who has won the SPL for a record 54times.
Let's turn our attention then to Valencia Club de Futebol or fondly known as Los Che.
Mid 2000's it was reported that VCF had an internal debt issue exceeding 400million euros, which resulted in players going unpaid, among other unpleasantries. At this point things were looking dire, and honestly, most other clubs would probably have stared liquidation in the face.
Not Valencia!
Gaizka Mendieta. Maestro!
Now if you looked back a decade+ at their 2000 and 2001 squads
[who both reached the UCL final], you'd know that this was no 'mickey mouse' outfit.
There was a lot of pride playing for Los Che.
A decision was made that in order to save the club, pride needed to be placed slightly to one side, to sell off key players a'la David Villa, David Silva and Juan Mata in order to keep the club afloat.
Selling key players?!?! Surely this means a definite down-turn in performances, RIGHT?
Not Valencia!
Super Cup Winners 2004
Strategic player acquisitions, developing youngsters and playing a style suited to those wearing the shirt all helped in continuing a measure of success for the club.
Remember 2009? When Everton FC had all but sealed the signing of Ever Banega, only for Los Che to decline at the last minute...and look at how Banega went on to boss things in midfield for them. The season prior he wasn't getting a look in, but some smart thinking and calculated risk paid off.
Same goes for Jordi Alba. Not really playing, with Joaquin, Mata and Silva running the wings, they opted to hold onto him and a season+ later they've sold the young fullback to FCB for approximately €14 million.
Throughout this time Valencia have unearthed new finds like Sofiane Feghouli, while landing Daniel Parejo and Roberto Soldado to strengthen where they have had to sell.
Soldado has bagged 25 and 27goals in the two seasons he has been at the club, showing that there is life after David Villa.
The other notable feat is that for the past three seasons they've placed 3rd in La Liga, behind big spenders FCB and Real Madrid and fended off the advances of 'oil-rich' Malaga.
So Valencia CF continue to fight off the debt threat, by being somewhat of a selling club, yet still maintaining their status among Europe's elite.
Going a long way to proving that it's not All about the money!
I respect that!
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