Double delight for Valencia
Monday, May 30, 2005
Article summary
Valencia CF have named Quique Sánchez Flores as their new coach while announcing the signing of midfielder Edu.
Article body
Getafe achievement
Sánchez Flores has won plaudits for steering Getafe CF to survival in their first Primera División season - and his first major job as a coach - and was named as Valencia's new team chief by chairman Juan Batista Soler on Monday.
'Take Valencia forward'
The 40-year-old will work alongside the club's new director of sport Javier Subirats, who said of Sánchez Flores: "He is Spanish and will continue to develop as a coach. We believe he has the capacity to take Valencia forward."
Madrid link
Sánchez Flores, a former Valencia, Real Madrid CF and Spain defender, led Getafe, a modest Madrid-based outfit, to 13th place in Spain. He had spent the 2003/04 season in charge of Madrid's youth team and will be officially presented on Wednesday.
'Extraordinary player'
Chairman Batista Soler also announced the signing of Arsenal's Edu, saying: "He's an extraordinary player." The 27-year-old, who joined Arsenal for €9m from SC Corinthians midway through the English club's 2001/02 double-winning campaign, will arrive on a free transfer. Edu claimed a second Premiership title last year and an FA Cup winner's medal earlier this month.
