New coach in tune with the VCF youth policy

The Valencia CF philosophy of bringing through young players to the first team has found a kindred spirit in the form of Javi Gracia, the new coach at the club and a believer in the adage "If you're good enough, you're old enough."
The coach has, through necessity and through choice, given several now-established players their big break in the first team at clubs where he has been in charge.

When at Pontevedra CF, his first club, he handed a first start to Fran Rico, who would later joing Real Madrid's B team and play in LaLiga for Granada and Eibar.

In the case of Aleix Vidal, who went on to win LaLiga and the Copa del Rey with FC Barcelona and the Europa League with Sevilla, Gracia was coach during his breakthrough second season at Almeria in the Segunda División.

When at Cadiz he brought in Jaume Costa from VCF Mestalla on loan, also accompanying him the following season (2010/11) at Villarreal B.

The youngest player Javi Gracia has given a debut to was at CA Osasuna, allowing 16-year-old José García to play his first game for the senior squad.

At Malaga CF, youth was also a focus. Top level players were given a chance under his watch, amongst them Samu Castillejo, Juanpi, Pablo Fornals and Javi Ontiveros, who remain highly rated to this day.

“When I make decisions, I will not look at age, nationality or any other factor that itn's the performance of the players," said Gracia at his unveiling this week, and he will have the cream of young talent at the VCF Academy at his disposal during his tenure in the dugout.