David Albelda was a tenacious defensive midfielder and long-serving Valencia captain, the disciplined anchor of the side that won La Liga titles and European silverware in the early 2000s. Positionally astute and combative, he shielded the back four and kept the team’s shape.
A one-club figure in the affections of the Mestalla faithful and a Spain international, he was the unglamorous but essential foundation of a successful era.