The 2005-06 campaign was a season of vital resurgence for Valencia, as Los Che, under new manager Quique Sánchez Flores, surged to a 3rd-place finish in La Liga, securing a coveted spot in the Champions League qualifying rounds. Leading the charge in his breakout year was the sensational new striker David Villa, whose 25 league goals, a club record in over 60 years, powered the attack. The season, which saw the emergence of young defensive starlet Raúl Albiol, provided a crucial platform for El Guaje's legendary career and marked a successful return to the Spanish elite, despite the disappointment of a narrow Intertoto Cup final loss.