From Cubells to Gayà: 95 years of VCF representation for Spain

The Spanish national team and Valencia CF have close ties stretching back some 95 years, the anniversary of the first player for the club representing 'La Roja' taking place on May 17th.

Eduardo Cubells was the first Valencia CF player to receive a call-up and play for Spain, in a game that was held in Lisbon against Portugal. The 0-2 win marked the first of five appearances for his country for Cubells, including a goal against Austria in Viena.

The VCF legend opened the door for players from the club to participate in the national team setup at senior level, and generation after generation of Valencianistas have followed in his footsteps.

José Luis Gayà is the most recent, and has the same dedication to club and country that Cubells displayed (Cubells would retire and move to a position of Technical Secretary for Valencia CF when let go, because he decided that he would not be able to play for another club).

Over this past 95 years, Valencia CF have provided a total of 72 players also recognised by Spain in official matches, qualifying stages, tournaments and friendlies. The man with the most caps whilst on the books at Mestalla is David Villa, who was at VCF for 64 of his 98 appearances for his country.

Behind him are other legends such as Marchena, Albelda, Baraja, Vicente, Silva, Cañizares, Zubizarreta and Mendieta, with current club ambassador Juan Cruz Sol rounding off the Top 10.

The three most recently called-up members of theValencia CF squad -Rodrigo, Parejo and Gayà- all did so when at VCF, joining a select group.

PLAYER                 WITH VCF (TOTAL)

DAVID VILLA                                64 (98)

MARCHENA                                 62 (69)

ALBELDA                                      51 (51)

BARAJA                                        43 (43)

VICENTE                                       38 (38)

SILVA                                             38 (125)

CAÑIZARES                                  36 (46)

ZUBIZARRETA                              35 (126)

MENDIETA                                     27 (40)

SOL                                                  25 (28)                                                                

TENDILLO                                     25 (27)                                                                

PUCHADES                                   23 (23)                                                                 

CLARAMUNT                                 23 (23)                                                             

SAURA                                           23 (23)                                                                 

RODRIGO                                       22 (22)                                                                

ALBIOL                                            16 (56)                                                                

EIZAGUIRRE                                   16 (18)                                                                

EPI                                                   15 (15)                                                               

QUIQUE                                           15 (15)                                                               

CAMARASA                                     14 (14)                                                            

PACO ALCÁCER                             13 (19)

JORDI ALBA                                     11 (70)                                                               

MATA                                                11 (41)                                                                

FERNANDO GINER                         11 (11)                                                               

ANGULO                                           11 (11)                                                               

ROBERTO FERNÁNDEZ                  10 (29)                                                              

IGOA                                                  10 (10)                                                              

JOAQUÍN                                            9 (51)                                                              

SOLDADO                                          9 (12)                                                               

VALDEZ                                              9 (9)                                                                 

FERNANDO                                        8 (8)

QUINCOCES                                      8 (8)

GAYÀ                                                  7 (7)

QUINO                                                6 (7)

ASENSI                                               6 (6)                                                                

GUILLOT                                             6 (6)                                                                

PAQUITO                                            5 (9)                                                                

ANTÓN                                               5 (5)                                                                 

CUBELLS                                           5 (5)

CURRO TORRES                              5 (5)

MORIENTES                                      4 (47)

SOLSONA                                          4 (7)

ANSOLA                                             4 (5)

PAREJO                                             4 (4)

JESÚS MARTÍNEZ                            4 (4)                                                           

PABLO HERNÁNDEZ                        4 (4)

VIDAGANY                                         4 (4)

GOROSTIZA                                       3 (19)

GERARD                                             3 (6)

MUNDO                                               3 (3)

PASIEGUITO                                       3 (3)

ELOY                                                   2 (15)

OTERO                                                2 (9)

ÁLVARO                                               2 (4)

CARRETE                                            2 (2)

JUAN RAMÓN                                      2 (2)

MESTRE                                               2 (2)

MISTA                                                    2 (2)

ADURIZ                                                 1 (11)

FARINÓS                                               1 (2)                                                             

NANDO                                                  1 (2)

ARIAS                                                    1 (1)

BARRACHINA                                       1 (1)

BERTOLÍ                                               1 (1)

BOTUBOT                                             1 (1)

FUERTES                                              1 (1)

LICO                                                      1 (1)

MANZANEDO                                       1 (1)

MAÑÓ                                                   1 (1)

OCHOTORENA                                    1 (1)

PIQUER                                                1 (1)

POLI                                                     1 (1)