5 Reasons why 2004 was an important year in the world of Football

The Champions Werder Bremen with 2003-04 Bundes Liga title.
The Champions Werder Bremen with 2003-04 Bundes Liga title.

#4 Valencia FC - La Liga Champions

Valencia FC players with the League title and UEFA Cup 2003-04
Valencia FC players with the League title and UEFA Cup 2003-04

Another surprise. The Spanish champions for the 2003-04 season were the club from Mestalla Stadium.

Valencia finished at the top of the table with 77 points in 38 games including 23 wins, 8 draws and 7 losses. Runners-up FC Barcelona was 5 points shy of the top. Valencia was managed by the Spaniard Rafael Benitez, who went on to win the UEFA Champions League the next year with Liverpool FC.

The key members of the squad were Mista, Juan Sanchez Moreno, Ricardo Oliveira, Roberto Ayala and Mauricio Pellegrino. Mista was the top-scorer for Valencia with 19 goals in the league. Apart from the League glory, Valencia was also victorious in the UEFA CUP, which later came to be known as UEFA Europa League.

However, they were knocked out of the Copa Del Rey by Real Madrid which ended their hopes of a treble.

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