Albelda: "Gayà has all the values ​​required to be a great captain"

Since David Albelda played his final game for Valencia CF, on June 1st, 2013 against Sevilla FC at the Sánchez Pizjuán, there have been several players who have taken on the captain's armband. This season the honour befalls José Luis Gayà, the culmination of a dream he had when he first joined the VCF Academy. The 25-year-old follows in Albelda’s footsteps as a homegrown skipper with a passion for the club.

VCF Media spoke with Albelda about the responsibility of the role, and how he thinks Gayà will do as the leader of the team.

“Both the captaincy and having homegrown players come through is always important. I think that right now there is a good representation of the VCF Academy in the first team. Gayà, who has now become the first choice captain, has already worn the armband before. With his character, personality and youth, I think he has all the values ​​required to be a great captain,” said the former midfielder.

The admiration is mutual, of course, and Gayà says that Albelda “has always been THE captain of Valencia CF.”

“He’s the player that I most remember as captain, and the one who was captain for the longest time. Obviously Dani Parejo had a big impact on me, with me playing alongside him, but Albelda has always been someone who is a point of reference for all Valencianistas.”

Curiously enough, the pair shared a brief time on the pitch during the twilight of Albelda’s career. It was just a few minutes in a single game, in the Copa del Rey, when Valencia CF played UE Llagostera. At the time, Gayà was just 17 years old, and Albelda 35. Despite the experience only being a matter of minutes, it is something to remember for the current skipper -whose brother idolised the VCF legend.