The 2004-05 campaign was a season of soaring expectation and ultimate disappointment for Valencia. Los Che began the year on a high, immediately claiming European silverware by winning the UEFA Super Cup against Porto, with their new striker Marco Di Vaio netting the decisive goal. However, the initial euphoria quickly dissolved into turmoil, marked by an early exit from the UEFA Champions League group stage and the subsequent mid-season sacking of manager Claudio Ranieri. Despite the turbulent atmosphere, the Italian forward Marco Di Vaio finished the season as the league's top scorer for the club with 11 crucial goals. The year ended with a 7th-place finish in La Liga, securing qualification for the Intertoto Cup, and remains a defining chapter of transition and unrealized promise in the club's modern history.