The 2001-02 campaign delivered a respectable 12th-place finish for Real Valladolid, securing their top-flight status in their ninth consecutive season in La Liga. Leading the charge was the new hero, Fernando, whose impressive haul of 15 league goals (16 overall) proved vital for Pucela's mid-table consolidation. Under manager Pepe Moré, the team also reached the Copa del Rey Quarter-finals and featured the exciting talents of Mexican star Cuauhtémoc Blanco, marking a solid chapter of continued presence in the Spanish elite.