KNC
Well-known member
Amunt Vicente
By
Mando
– June 3, 2011Posted in: valencia, Valencia CF, Vicente
written for Forza Futbol by Cesar Benoit
Vicente Rodriguez’s last moments as a Valencia player at the Mestalla were like scenes from an awkward comedy. In the midst of his team mates swarming the field after a dull 0-0 draw against local rivals Levante, Vicente looked left and right, as if awaiting a pass that never came.
A few players hugged him. But the fans and players were more concerned about the drab way Valencia played, about whether coach Unai Emery would be offered an extension, about the future of the club. No ceremony. No pomp. Just quiet.
Vicente was old news. And off he went, never to grace the Mestalla pitch as a member of Los Che.
A small piece of Valencia history left the field that day, never to return. Ruben Baraja departed last season, Santiago Canizares the season before. With Vicente gone, only David Albelda remains from the glory years.
What years they were – two Champions League finals, a UEFA Cup, a European Super Cup and two league titles.
Slowly, the links to that squad have fallen away. Vicente left this season. But in reality, he’s been gone for a long time.
He was a true pleasure to watch, with his deft foot skills, his incisive runs and his wicked pace.
He played more than 300 games over 11 seasons for Los Che, coming over from Levante in 2000.
He displaced Valencia favorite Kily Gonzalez and made the left side of the pitch his own, his energetic runs lifting Valencia supporters off their feet in awe and amazement at the local boy done good.
The 2003-04 season proved to be Vicente’s best, his energy helping Rafa Benitez’s club win their second league title in three years.
He scored two goals in seven outings en route to a UEFA Cup victory, including one in the final.
After the season, Europe’s biggest clubs sniffed around the winger, but he didn’t care. “I’m happy to remain at Valencia because I was born here and it’s my home.”
Things started to change the next season. An ankle injury forced him to sit on the sidelines for all but 12 league matches.
The next season was more of the same, as he only played in 16 games.
In 2007, Vicente injured himself in training and his frustration showed, the years of pain wilting his confidence.
He blamed the club’s medical staff, telling reporters he’d lost confidence in them, that they were to blame.
Unfortunately, Vicente never recovered his graceful form from years past. Sure, he scored goals here and there. Sure, there were flashes of brilliance.
But he never garnered coach Unai Emery’s confidence. He never managed to supplant the new kid in town, Juan Mata.
Vicente’s days were numbered. He was once considered one of the best young talents in the game, one of the best left wingers in the world. Now he was as brittle as porcelain.
This season was it, the coaching staff calling an end to Vicente’s days as a Valencia player. We knew his days were numbered long ago. He’d spent more time watching games than playing them.
It was time to go.
He’s only 29. He’s not what he used to be. His movie star looks are still there, although there’s some gray creeping in, more lines in his face.
But he’s still cunning. He can still run at you. And he’s intelligent, something many players aren’t.
Do I sound like his dad or his agent? Maybe.
I just want to see him do well. Vicente means a lot to me. He’s not just some player. He’s a symbol. Vicente’s a piece of living history from the glory years and a tie to a time that will forever live in my soul.
He’s not just some guy leaving the club. He’s emotion and energy and time spent loving this club and this city so very much. It’s personal to me.
It makes me sad to see him go. But time waits for no one.
He said he’d like to play abroad. Blackburn have inquired. Maybe he’ll have a go at the Premier League.
Wherever he goes, we wish him the best. He’s a class act and a true Valencianista.
Amunt Vicente! Eres un crack! We’ll miss you and we love you.
By
Mando
– June 3, 2011Posted in: valencia, Valencia CF, Vicente
written for Forza Futbol by Cesar Benoit
Vicente Rodriguez’s last moments as a Valencia player at the Mestalla were like scenes from an awkward comedy. In the midst of his team mates swarming the field after a dull 0-0 draw against local rivals Levante, Vicente looked left and right, as if awaiting a pass that never came.
A few players hugged him. But the fans and players were more concerned about the drab way Valencia played, about whether coach Unai Emery would be offered an extension, about the future of the club. No ceremony. No pomp. Just quiet.
Vicente was old news. And off he went, never to grace the Mestalla pitch as a member of Los Che.
A small piece of Valencia history left the field that day, never to return. Ruben Baraja departed last season, Santiago Canizares the season before. With Vicente gone, only David Albelda remains from the glory years.
What years they were – two Champions League finals, a UEFA Cup, a European Super Cup and two league titles.
Slowly, the links to that squad have fallen away. Vicente left this season. But in reality, he’s been gone for a long time.
He was a true pleasure to watch, with his deft foot skills, his incisive runs and his wicked pace.
He played more than 300 games over 11 seasons for Los Che, coming over from Levante in 2000.
He displaced Valencia favorite Kily Gonzalez and made the left side of the pitch his own, his energetic runs lifting Valencia supporters off their feet in awe and amazement at the local boy done good.
The 2003-04 season proved to be Vicente’s best, his energy helping Rafa Benitez’s club win their second league title in three years.
He scored two goals in seven outings en route to a UEFA Cup victory, including one in the final.
After the season, Europe’s biggest clubs sniffed around the winger, but he didn’t care. “I’m happy to remain at Valencia because I was born here and it’s my home.”
Things started to change the next season. An ankle injury forced him to sit on the sidelines for all but 12 league matches.
The next season was more of the same, as he only played in 16 games.
In 2007, Vicente injured himself in training and his frustration showed, the years of pain wilting his confidence.
He blamed the club’s medical staff, telling reporters he’d lost confidence in them, that they were to blame.
Unfortunately, Vicente never recovered his graceful form from years past. Sure, he scored goals here and there. Sure, there were flashes of brilliance.
But he never garnered coach Unai Emery’s confidence. He never managed to supplant the new kid in town, Juan Mata.
Vicente’s days were numbered. He was once considered one of the best young talents in the game, one of the best left wingers in the world. Now he was as brittle as porcelain.
This season was it, the coaching staff calling an end to Vicente’s days as a Valencia player. We knew his days were numbered long ago. He’d spent more time watching games than playing them.
It was time to go.
He’s only 29. He’s not what he used to be. His movie star looks are still there, although there’s some gray creeping in, more lines in his face.
But he’s still cunning. He can still run at you. And he’s intelligent, something many players aren’t.
Do I sound like his dad or his agent? Maybe.
I just want to see him do well. Vicente means a lot to me. He’s not just some player. He’s a symbol. Vicente’s a piece of living history from the glory years and a tie to a time that will forever live in my soul.
He’s not just some guy leaving the club. He’s emotion and energy and time spent loving this club and this city so very much. It’s personal to me.
It makes me sad to see him go. But time waits for no one.
He said he’d like to play abroad. Blackburn have inquired. Maybe he’ll have a go at the Premier League.
Wherever he goes, we wish him the best. He’s a class act and a true Valencianista.
Amunt Vicente! Eres un crack! We’ll miss you and we love you.
