# 2006–07 Valencia CF season

During the 2006–07 Spanish football season, Valencia CF competed in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.

## Overview

Valencia made significant changes for the season, with coach Quique Sánchez Flores and technical director Amedeo Carboni overhauling the squad. Players who did not fit in the current playing system, such as Marco Di Vaio, Bernardo Corradi, Pablo Aimar, Rufete, and Mista, were some of those who were sold, while Fábio Aurélio signed for Liverpool (reuniting with former Valencia manager Rafael Benítez) after refusing an extension to his contract. To strengthen the squad, Valencia signed Joaquin, Asier del Horno, Fernando Morientes and Francesco Tavano, as well as recalling David Silva and Jaime Gavilán from loan spells, and promoting several youngsters from the Valencia B squad. The club's transfer activity was not wholly successful, however: the club failed in an attempt to sign Benfica winger Simão, while veteran defender Roberto Ayala expressed his desire to sign for rivals Villarreal.
Valencia started the season strongly, winning their first three Champions League matches, against Olympiacos, Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk. The team qualified to pass on to the next round in a 2–2 draw against Shaktar on Matchday Four. On 15 December, Valencia were drawn to play against Italian champions Inter Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the first leg scheduled to take place on 21 February. In La Liga, Valencia started the season with victories against Real Betis, Atlético Madrid, Getafe and Gimnàstic de Tarragona, along with a creditable draw with reigning Liga champions Barcelona. As of 1 October, Valencia were second, behind Barcelona on goal difference. However, they went through a slump in November which caused them to slip up in the league. The first of six winless matches started with a 1–0 defeat to Racing de Santander. This poor run was attributed to injuries to key players like captain David Albelda, midfielder Rubén Baraja, wingers Jaime Gavilán and Vicente, defenders Carlos Marchena and Asier del Horno and forward Francesco Tavano. Despite all these worries, the team is made a strong comeback, winning their last three matches before the winter break (against Deportivo de La Coruña, Real Zaragoza and Mallorca).

## Squad

    Squad at end of season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ESP | Santiago Cañizares |
| 2 | DF | POR | Miguel |
| 3 | DF | ESP | Asier del Horno |
| 4 | DF | ARG | Roberto Ayala |
| 5 | DF | ESP | Carlos Marchena |
| 6 | MF | ESP | David Albelda (captain) |
| 7 | FW | ESP | David Villa |
| 8 | MF | ESP | Rubén Baraja |
| 9 | FW | ESP | Fernando Morientes |
| 10 | FW | ESP | Miguel Ángel Angulo |
| 11 | MF | URU | Mario Regueiro |
| 13 | GK | ESP | Juan Luis Mora |
| 14 | MF | ESP | Vicente |
| 15 | MF | ESP | Joaquín |
| 16 | MF | POR | Hugo Viana |
| 17 | DF | ESP | David Navarro |
| 18 | MF | ESP | Jorge López |
| 19 | MF | ESP | Jaime Gavilán |
| 20 | DF | ESP | Raúl Albiol |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 21 | MF | ESP | David Silva |
| 22 | MF | BRA | Edu |
| 23 | DF | ESP | Curro Torres |
| 24 | DF | ITA | Emiliano Moretti |
| 25 | GK | FRA | Ludovic Butelle |
| 26 | DF | ESP | Cerra |
| 27 | MF | ESP | Pablo Hernández |
| 28 | MF | ESP | Natxo Insa |
| 29 | DF | ESP | David Córcoles |
| 30 | MF | ESP | Aarón |
| 31 | MF | ESP | Miguel Pallardó |
| 32 | DF | ESP | Cristian Castells |
| 33 | DF | ESP | Berna |
| 34 | FW | ESP | Javi Guerra |
| 35 | GK | ESP | Vicente Guaita |
| 36 | MF | ESP | Ángel Montoro |
| 37 | DF | ESP | Álex Vaquero |
| 38 | MF | ESP | Vicente Romero |
| 39 | MF | ESP | Carles |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 12 | MF | ITA | Stefano Fiore (on loan to Torino) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 12 | FW | ITA | Francesco Tavano (on loan to Roma) |

## Transfers
### In

* Fernando Morientes – Liverpool
* David Silva – Celta Vigo, loan return
* Jaime Gavilán – Getafe, loan return
* Stefano Fiore – Fiorentina, loan return
* Javier Garrido Ramírez – Albacete, loan return
* Asier del Horno – Chelsea
* Francesco Tavano – Empoli
* Joaquín – Real Betis

### Out

* Marco Di Vaio – Monaco
* Amedeo Carboni – retired
* Fábio Aurélio – Liverpool
* José Enrique – Villarreal
* Fabián Estoyanoff – Deportivo, loan
* Marco Caneira – Sporting CP, loan
* Bernardo Corradi – Manchester City
* Francisco Rufete – Espanyol
* Mista – Atlético Madrid
* Pablo Aimar – Real Zaragoza
* Javier Garrido Ramírez – Lorca Deportiva
* Patrick Kluivert – PSV
* Stefano Fiore – Torino

## Results
### La Liga

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 2 | Barcelona | 38 | 22 | 10 | 6 | 78 | 33 | +45 | 76 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 3 | Sevilla | 38 | 21 | 8 | 9 | 64 | 35 | +29 | 71 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round |
| 4 | Valencia | 38 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 57 | 42 | +15 | 66 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round |
| 5 | Villarreal | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 48 | 44 | +4 | 62 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 6 | Zaragoza | 38 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 55 | 43 | +12 | 60 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
* ↑ RMA 2–0 BAR; BAR 3–3 RMA
* ↑ ATM 0–1 ZAR; ZAR 1–0 ATM