Kempes honoured 50 years on from Valencia debut | OneFootball

Fifty years to the day since his Mestalla debut on 16 August 1976, Mario Alberto Kempes was quietly honoured and his legend felt as vivid as ever.

According to Superdeporte, fans gathered at 10.30pm outside the Tribuna as Cisco Fran performed "Nostàlgia de Bell Ville" at an event by 'úvaM'. A commemorative magazine marked his first game against CSKA Moscow, a Trofeu Taronja night settled on penalties.

The tribute was simple, with the Senyera and Argentina shirts hanging at Gate 0 and a banner from 'úvam' reading "Lim go home". Fran closed with "Amut Valencia!".

Kempes arrived that summer and, as the stories go, played his debut still fighting jet lag. His medical even found pellets in his stomach, supposedly from a food mishap in Motilla del Palancar.

That first Trofeo Naranja run-out misfired, yet within two weeks, as the league began, doubts vanished and the Matador won over Mestalla.

Across seven seasons he won two Pichichis, the Copa del Rey, the Cup Winners’ Cup and the European Super Cup, the club’s first.

His impact went further. In 1978 he lifted the World Cup with Argentina and claimed both Golden Boot and Golden Ball, a double only matched by Paolo Rossi in 1982.

Marking the anniversary, 'últimes vesprades a Mestalla' has launched a debut-themed magazine benefiting Elvira Roda, granddaughter of 1919 founder Pepe Llorca, who has Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. It can be bought this Sunday, or on Thursday 17 September at its official presentation.

Source: Superdeporte

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