Valencia’s greatest full-backs, from Juan Cruz Sol to Gayà | OneFootball

Valencia are one of Spanish and European football’s historic clubs. Despite recent struggles blamed on Meriton Holding’s poor management, Mestalla has long attracted top talent and Paterna keeps producing it.

According to Superdeporte, the lineage of great full-backs runs from Antón, a mainstay of the 1971 title winners, to Juan Cruz Sol, who debuted at 17 and won the Copa, Liga, Cup Winners’ Cup and Supercopa across almost 400 games.

Pepe Carrete arrived from Real Oviedo and owned the right flank in the late 70s and early 80s, lifting the Copa, Cup Winners’ Cup and Supercopa.

Quique Sánchez Flores made 391 appearances, the vast majority as a starter, and is among the club’s top three right-backs. He debuted at 19 and after a decade at Mestalla, Real Madrid paid €1.2 million to sign him, and he enjoyed two good seasons there.

Leonardo, a decade earlier, showed his versatility on either side, later excelling further forward with AC Milan. Later, Amedeo Carboni and Jocelyn Angloma formed a charismatic pairing that dominated the flanks.

In 2002/03 Fabio Aurelio delivered a standout campaign, scoring eight goals. Curro Torres played fewer matches but started regularly in the 2003/04 double-winning season.

Paterna’s recent mould has favoured left-backs. José Luis Gayà ranks among Valencia’s best, with Jordi Alba and Juan Bernat preceding him from the B team, and Lato, Centelles and Jesús Vázquez later reaching the top flight.

Source: Superdeporte