Role of club chaplain reintroduced with appointment of Álvaro Almenar

Valencia CF have brought back the role of club chaplain, left vacant since the passing of Elías Llagaría in 2016, with the appointment of diocesan priest Álvaro Almenar. At the ceremony for his acceptance of the position, Valencia CF president Anil Murthy together with the board member and executive director, Joey Lim and social ambassador Ricardo Arias, were in attendance.

Cardinal Cañizares, in charge of welcoming the new chaplain at the Palacio Arzobispal, said that "Valencia identifies with Valencia CF, all Valencians love this team and we wish the best for them." The Archbishop encouraged the appointment "to help them carry on those human virtues that have characterised sport -and also Valencia CF- throughout their history."

Mr. Murthy also commented on the move by the club to bring back the role, saying that "at Valencia CF we want to reconnect with these traditions and with Valencian society. Álvaro Almenar is a big fan of Valencia CF".

Almenar himself added that “I only have words of gratitude to the cardenal for the trust shown in me. This appointment makes me very happy and I am also very grateful to the club, both as a priest, for the work I can do as a chaplain, and also as someone with passion for Valencia CF."

As a mark of the union between both entities, Mr. Murthy handed over a reproduction of Mestalla to welcome Almenar to the club.