# 2005–06 Valencia CF season

During the 2005–06 Spanish football season, Valencia CF competed in La Liga.

## Season summary

Valencia opened a new chapter in its history with the appointment of Spanish high-rated coach Quique Sánchez Flores, who had been successful managing Getafe. The most significant player during the season was new striker David Villa, signed from Real Zaragoza in the summer, who netted 25 goals over the full season but losing the topscoring battle of La Liga to Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o with 26 strikes, which was a near low-record. Valencia ended a league season finished 3rd place, just a single point behind Real Madrid and secured UEFA Champions League third qualifying round in the following season. To make matters worse, Valencia had endured a worst UEFA Intertoto Cup run, being beaten 1–0 later eliminated in the final UEFA Intertoto Cup by German club Hamburg and thus failed to qualify for UEFA Cup. This was only their earliest exit from European competitions for the first time.
Most notable new players also include Dutch veteran Patrick Kluivert, Spanish young defence starlet Raúl Albiol, Brazilian Edu and Juan Mora.

## First-team squad

    Squad at end of season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ESP | Santiago Cañizares |
| 2 | DF | POR | Miguel |
| 3 | DF | BRA | Fábio Aurélio |
| 4 | DF | ARG | Roberto Ayala |
| 5 | DF | ESP | Carlos Marchena |
| 6 | MF | ESP | David Albelda |
| 7 | FW | ESP | David Villa |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Rubén Baraja |
| 9 | FW | NED | Patrick Kluivert |
| 10 | MF | ESP | Miguel Ángel Angulo |
| 11 | MF | URU | Mario Regueiro |
| 13 | GK | ESP | Juan Mora |
| 14 | MF | ESP | Vicente |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 15 | DF | ITA | Amedeo Carboni |
| 16 | MF | POR | Hugo Viana |
| 17 | DF | ESP | David Navarro |
| 18 | MF | ESP | Jorge López |
| 19 | MF | ESP | Francisco Rufete |
| 20 | FW | ESP | Mista |
| 21 | MF | ARG | Pablo Aimar |
| 22 | MF | BRA | Edu |
| 23 | DF | ESP | Curro Torres |
| 24 | DF | ITA | Emiliano Moretti |
| 25 | GK | FRA | Ludovic Butelle |
| 27 | MF | ESP | Pablo Hernández |
| 33 | DF | ESP | Raúl Albiol |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 12 | DF | POR | Marco Caneira (on loan to Sporting CP) |
| 18 | MF | URU | Gonzalo de los Santos (released) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 22 | FW | ITA | Marco Di Vaio (on loan to AS Monaco) |

## Results
### La Liga

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Barcelona (C) | 38 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 80 | 35 | +45 | 82 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 38 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 70 | 40 | +30 | 70 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 3 | Valencia | 38 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 58 | 33 | +25 | 69 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round |
| 4 | Osasuna | 38 | 21 | 5 | 12 | 49 | 43 | +6 | 68 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round |
| 5 | Sevilla | 38 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 54 | 39 | +15 | 68 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |

### Intertoto Cup
#### Third round

Valencia won 2–0 on aggregate.

#### Semi-final

Valencia won 4–0 on aggregate.

#### Final

Hamburg won 1–0 on aggregate.