Albelda at the Ciudad Deportiva

David Albelda's playing career may have come to an end seven years ago, but the Valencia CF legend is still a regular at the Ciudad Deportiva. Whereas he once trained there with his teammates to prepare for games, now he can be found dropping off and collecting his son, who is enrolled in the VCF Academy.

On Tuesday night, however, he was present in yet another role: As coach of Atzeneta UE, his first managerial role and one that saw him play VCF Mestalla in a friendly fixture.

"I come here every day to pick up my son, so I haven't lost sight of this place," Albelda said of the Ciudad Deportiva. "On this occasion I was here in a different facet, as coach of an opposing side on the pitches where I grew up as a young player."

On the move into coaching, the iconic former midfielder told VCF Media:

"This new stage of my life as a coach is a very important learning process. Atzeneta is a town with 1000 inhabitants, and we don't have the infrastructure that Valencia CF and other clubs have. It's a very useful experience.
Atzeneta UE will be VCF Mestalla's first opponents when the Segunda B season gets underway on October 18th.