Club16 August 2026
50 years since the legendary Mario Alberto Kempes made his debut for Valencia CF
The former Argentine footballer made his debut for Valencia CF on August 16, 1976, in the fourth edition of the Trofeu Taronja against CSKA Moscow
On August 16, 1976, the legend of Mario Alberto Kempes (born July 15, 1954) with Valencia CF began. The former Argentine footballer wore the Valencia shirt for the first time in a special match—the fourth edition of the Trofeu Taronja, held at Mestalla.
Photos: Viña
Valencia CF played against CSKA Moscow and drew 2–2, but lost on penalties. As a result, the Valencia side had to play a third-place playoff against Hércules CF.
Photos: Viña
Kempes made history, becoming a legend, an idol of the Valencia faithful, and a figure whose legacy has been passed down from generation to generation. The former Argentine footballer made 246 official appearances for Valencia CF, scoring 149 goals and winning three titles: the 1979 Copa del Rey, the 1979/80 European Cup Winners’ Cup, and the 1980/81 European Super Cup. In addition, in 1978 he became a World Cup champion with Argentina and finished as the tournament’s top scorer.
Copyright 2013-2025 Valencia CF. The use of the editorial content of the article is permitted as long as the source gets the credit and contains the following link: www.valenciacf.com. Photographs by Lázaro de la Peña, reuse is not permitted.
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