Two Champions League final defeats - why Mendieta remains a cult hero

Two Champions League finals, 2 defeats. No silverware but shot fans astir nan move of nan period will not hide Gaizka Mendieta aliases Valencia.

For supporters successful nan UK, aliases successful this writer's lawsuit Ireland, Mendieta came retired of obscurity successful 1999 to go 1 of Europe's astir breathtaking players.

His highest would not past excessively long, but what a highest it was.

To observe nan BBC having Champions League highlights this season, we will look astatine a Champions League cult leader each week location are games.

In nan days of fledgling internet, earlier societal media existed - and unless you had outer tv - nan free-to-air Champions League and awesome tournaments were nan measurement you discovered overseas players for nan first time.

Mendieta was successful his mid-20s erstwhile Valencia, for 2 years, were nan talk of nan town.

In 1999-2000, nan Basque playmaker ran things for Hector Cuper's Los Che. The prestigious midfielder, his hairsbreadth blowing successful nan upwind arsenic he drifted past players, made cardinal passes and scored important goals.

He had a rocket of a changeable from agelong range, speedy feet that helped him elude opponents and could play centrally aliases connected nan wing. In summary, nan perfect attacking midfielder.

Other stars of nan squad were Spain goalkeeper Santiago Canizares, France full-back Jocelyn Angloma, early Barcelona midfielder Gerard and Argentina guardant Claudio Lopez.

Valencia had to travel done a information of qualifying and were past unbeaten arsenic they vanished apical of a group containing Bayern Munich.

Mendieta scored a awesome onslaught successful a 2-1 triumph astatine Rangers successful that group, pinch a cleanable deed connected nan bounce from nan separator of nan container that went successful via nan post.

"Mendieta is nan type of subordinate each squad would emotion to person - not conscionable skilful, but pinch imagination, and afloat of moving and moving for his team," said Rangers leader Dick Advocaat afterwards., external

They besides sewage done a 2nd group shape - a short-lived Uefa summation - pinch Mendieta scoring penalties against Fiorentina and Bordeaux.

Then they eliminated Lazio and Barcelona successful nan 2 knockout rounds. He scored successful some legs against Barcelona, including a good 20-yard effort astatine nan Nou Camp.

Mendieta's performances were truthful awesome that Lazio and Barcelona ended up being his adjacent 2 clubs.

Sadly for Valencia, they played Real Madrid successful nan last and mislaid 3-0. It was Real's first European Cup triumph since 1966. A fewer much person followed since then.

The pursuing year, cipher was going to underestimate Valencia aliases Mendieta - yet teams still struggled to extremity them.

Vicente, Didier Deschamps, Pablo Aimar and John Carew were immoderate of nan iconic names to subordinate them that season.

It was a play that will particularly beryllium remembered by a big of English teams' fans.

Valencia vanished supra Manchester United successful nan 2nd group shape - past knocked retired Arsenal successful nan quarter-finals and Leeds United successful nan semi-finals.

Mendieta netted their 3rd successful nan 2nd limb against Leeds, pinch a awesome debased thrust into nan bottommost area from distance.

Bayern Munich awaited successful nan last successful nan San Siro. Three minutes in, Mendieta was fouled and stepped up to return nan penalty, slotting it into nan bottommost area beyond Oliver Kahn.

But Bayern came back, pinch Stefan Effenberg scoring a second-half punishment - and nan German giants won nan shootout 5-4. Captain Mendieta converted his spot-kick.

That was Bayern's first European Cup since 1976; Valencia had been nan opponents arsenic 2 of Europe's awesome clubs ended their Champions League droughts.

Mendieta was named nan champion midfielder astatine nan Uefa Club Football Awards successful some those seasons.

And that was nan extremity of that.

"Back then, it was very achy but now we realise really difficult it is to execute a Champions League last spot and we did that 2 years successful a row," he told BBC Sport successful an question and reply successful 2013.

"In perspective, we tin bask that accomplishment much arsenic erstwhile you suffer finals you do not admit them capable - truly, it was an unthinkable achievement."

Mendieta near for Lazio successful nan summertime of 2001 for £29m, nan sixth biggest transportation of each time.

His clip successful Rome was a nightmare and a indebtedness spell astatine Barcelona followed earlier he ended his profession pinch Middlesbrough, wherever he won nan 2004 League Cup.

All 40 of his Spain caps came betwixt 1999 and 2002.

After retiring he settled down successful adjacent Yarm pinch his English woman Helen.

And Valencia? They ne'er reached different Champions League final. In truth they were not moreover successful it successful 2001-02.

They are 1 of only 3 teams - on pinch Atletico Madrid and French broadside Reims - to scope aggregate European Cup finals without winning one.

"It took a while to build that squad up," he told nan BBC successful 2009. "Getting nan correct players takes clip and erstwhile they were location a batch of them stayed for rather a fewer seasons - moreover aft I near they won nan convention and nan Uefa Cup.

"For a batch of nan players it was nan champion infinitesimal successful their careers. We believed successful something, believed we could create something, and erstwhile you person that belief successful athletics you consciousness you are tin of anything.

"I look backmost now and I americium thrilled astatine really overmuch I achieved. When I started to play shot I ne'er dreamed I could scope nan level I sewage to."

Mendieta now useful arsenic a shot pundit and is progressive successful respective businesses.

The BBC will show highlights of nan Champions League this season.

For nan adjacent 3 years, from 22:00 connected nan Wednesday of Champions League matchweeks, location will beryllium match-by-match highlights disposable connected BBC iPlayer and nan BBC Sport website and app, positive a highlights show connected BBC One astatine 22:40.

There will besides beryllium clips online and connected societal media.