Unai Emery and the Valencia Left Back Factory: Is Jesús Vázquez Next Up?

The irony of Valencia being the left back factory of the 2010s and beyond is that the pioneering player of this dynasty was not originally a left back. The one after him was not originally a left back either, as was the one after that player.

All three – Jordi Alba, Juan Bernat, and  José Gayà – were converted from more attacking positions and became world-class in their new position. Before these players emerged, Valencia had Italians Amedeo Carboni and Emiliano Moretti, as well as Brazilian Fabio Aurelio and the Basque Asier Del Horno signed from Chelsea.

Things changed, however, around the period that Unai Emery took over the reins at Mestalla. Emery’s role in birthing this factory must not be forgotten. Valencia have continued to reap the fruits for over a decade, and the latest product of this factory is the exciting  Jesús Vázquez.

The emergence of Jordi Alba as the first great left back out of Valencia Mestalla (Valencia’s B team) was due to circumstance. Jeremy Mathieu had been signed in the summer of 2009 from Toulouse on a free transfer, and he was expected to be the club’s main left back for years to come.