RIOJA'S UPBRINGING: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Sevillian club CD Cabecense, entity in which also began the legend Carlos Marchena.

The Andalusian winger, Luis Rioja, joined Valencia CF in August 2024 after his time at Deportivo Alavés and after accumulating more than 200 games in Spanish football. Rioja has been one of the most outstanding players in the team at the start of LALIGA EA SPORTS 24-25. He talks about his formative stage in VCF MEDIA RADIO, the sporting director of CD Cabecense, the club where he played for VCF.

“I'm very happy that Luis is at Valencia CF because I know the affection and respect and I hope that Luis can achieve almost the same or at least that respect from the fans. Luis, besides being a good footballer, is an endearing person, very humble. He has earned it all”, affirms the sporting director of CD Cabecense, Jesús Valladares.

The Sevillian town of Las Cabezas de San Juan has a special link with the Valencian club. Not only because of Luis Rioja, but also because the legend Carlos Marchena is a native of this Andalusian village with more than 16,000 citizens.

“Marchena feels like another Valencianista. He holds Valencia CF above any club he has played for.” says Valladares. Rioja started in the world of soccer at CD Cabecense, the club where he was formed and began to stand out. His great performance led him to form part of the youth academy of teams such as Real Madrid CF or RC Celta de Vigo.