'La Chica de Sarriá'

This Saturday marks an important anniversary in Valencia CF history. On April 18th, 1971, Valencia CF were proclaimed LaLiga champions at Sarría, home ground of RCD Espanyol. Despite losing to ‘Los Pericos’, a draw between Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona gave Alfredo Di Stéfano’s side the title.

There are many enduring images from that day, including that of Mari Tere Berenguer, a Valencia CF fan upon whom television cameras as she celebrated the title, and who became known as ‘La Chica de Sarriá'.

More than a year ago, TVE journalist Paco Grande started a search on social media to locate the mystery girl. After fans contributed to the hunt, it was another journalist -CV Radio’s Paco Lloret, who provided the now 68-year-old’s identity.

Berenguer called in to VCF Media Radio on Friday to talk about the title win, almost 50 years on.

“My father took me to the game in Sarriá and it was wonderful. Everybody in the stands had their radios to hear the other result, and my father was very nervous. We were losing and the title was slipping away. Imagine our joy in the end when we won,” she remembers.

“We went onto the pitch, celebrated all over Barcelona with the Valencia CF flag in a horse carriage, and finally went to bed at five in the morning,” she recalled excitedly.

"When I was on the pitch, the Guardia Civil grabbed me. Everyone told them to let me go, and I followed my father, hugging the players... It was really indescribable."

One of the star players of that side, Claramunt, surprised Berenguer by joining the phone call.

“We should have won at Sarriá, but the team were mentally unprepared for what we were playing for. I was playing with a broken toe as well. The necessary points had been picked up throughout the season and finally, deservedly, we managed to become champions thanks to the other result. We deserved to win the title,” said the VCF legend.

“We had very clear opportunities, and chances that in other games we would have probably put away, but we did not score that day. There were a lot of young players in the squad and it was very difficult.”

Thanks to that title win, Claramunt and the team added to their trophy cabinet, and a curious story of an anonymous fan began.