The 1999-00 campaign delivered a landmark season for Valencia as Los Che, under manager Héctor Cúper, secured a strong 3rd-place finish in La Liga and enjoyed a stunning run to the UEFA Champions League final. Spearheading the attack was the inspirational captain Gaizka Mendieta, whose 13 league goals (and 19 in all competitions) powered the team's relentless drive. This dramatic run saw them crush Barcelona 4-1 in the semi-finals before falling to rivals Real Madrid in the final, the competition's first-ever all-Spanish final, a heartbreaking loss that was mitigated by Mendieta's award as the European Midfielder of the Season.