Crew SC's last three international friendlies:
07/24/2012 Crew SC 2 vs. Stoke City 1 @ MAPFRE Stadium
07/13/2013 Crew SC 1 vs. Wigan Athletic F.C 2 @ MAPFRE Stadium
07/23/2014 Crew SC 2 vs. Crystal Palace 2 @ MAPFRE Stadium:
Valencia's history
One of the most successful clubs in Spanish soccer, Valencia has won six La Liga titles and seven editions of the Copa del Rey. Based on the eastern Mediterranean coast of Spain, the club has also won the Spanish SuperCup and the UEFA Cup once each. Nicknamed Los Che, Valencia has reached seven major European finals, winning four in its history. The club made an appearance in the UEFA Champions League final twice, in 2000 and 2001. Recently, the club completed the 2014-15 La Liga campaign in fourth place, ensuring passage to the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League Playoff Round.
Valencia qualifies for Champions League
Valencia CF travels to Columbus on the heels of completing its 2014-15 La Liga campaign with a 3-2 victory over Almeria that clinched fourth place for Los Che ... the final table placement ensured Valencia CF’s passage to the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League Playoff Round ... the club is set to play in the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2012-13, when it advanced to the Knockout Stage of the tournament before falling to French side Paris Saint-Germain.
Personnel
Valencia is managed by Nuno Espirito Santo, commonly known as Nuno. He recently completed his first season at the club after joining it on July 4, 2014. Previously, he managed Portuguese side Rio Ave from 2012-14. A goalkeeper in his playing days, he dressed for clubs such as Osasuna, Dynamo Moscow and Porto.
Crew SC Director of Methodology Nico Estevez came to Columbus earlier this season from Valencia CF, where he worked for eight seasons. Estevez nearly upset La Liga giants Real Madrid as interim coach of Los Che.
Estevez gave a statement on playing in an international friendly against his former club: “It’s very special because it’s the city where I was born and the club I grew up supporting and where I worked for many years. It’s very exciting and I look forward to seeing some of my friends at the club again. It’s kind of incredible that the first year I work for Crew SC we are playing them in a friendly. I look forward to being an ambassador to Valencia and showing off this fantastic country, its amazing people and our club.”
Crew SC's last international friendly
Last season, the Black & Gold squared-off against Barclays Premier League side Crystal Palace making It was the fourth-straight season an English opponent visited MAPFRE Stadium. Crew SC and Palace drew the match by a 2-2 final
