Palop, supporting actor

Andrés Palop Cervera (22/10/1973, Valencia) did not enjoy a happy youth in the footballing sense, despite his rapid ascension through the ranks of Valencia's cantera and having showed signs of becoming a great goalkeeper from an early age. He was loaned out to Villarreal at the age of 20 and played 70 matches in two seasons in the Segunda Division. Everything indicated that his career was on the way to reaching some stellar heights, however the following years turned out to be a living nightmare for Palop. In six seasons Palop only managed to collect 50 appereances, an awful return for an aspiring player of his calibre.

He seemed to be destined to a career as a support player, an eternal substitute for Canizares, someone who by all accounts didn’t go out of his way to help and advise his young rival. Canizares always referred to Palop as "ese chico" and Palop spent season after season waiting patiently in the second team.

Even though Palop never really emerged as a first team player, he never protested his role at Valencia and demonstrated during training sessions his status as a true professional. In the summer of 2005 Valencia decided not to extend his contract and Luis Monchi (Sevilla's sports director) quickly jumped in, sensing Palop's potential to become a "leading actor". During his first season in Andalucia Palop became a starter and permanent member of Sevilla's first team. He caught fans attention with his performances in the UEFA cup where he shined in both semi-finals legs against Schalke and twice denied Mark Viduka in the final match against Middlesbrough. This season his role in the team became even more vital and fans will long remember his goal in a match against Shakhtkar Donetsk, which saved Sevilla's skin just seconds before the final whistle. Despite such incredible high’s, Palop is a player in keeping with Sevilla's motto - "lo mejor esta por llegar" – the best is yet to come.

16/5/2007, Hampden Park in Glasgow.
The 2007 UEFA Cup Final. Espanyol adopted the role of 300 Spartans against the mighty Sevilla, clear favourites for every pundit. But this was Scotland, not Greece, and history decided not to stick with the boys in white and blue. Andres Palop seemed to channel William Wallace, performing like a true Braveheart and becoming the hero for all sevilismo. Twenty minutes before the end of the closely fought match he impressed with two big saves and also showed that he could assist too, throwing a long ball to Adriano, who scored the first goal of the match. The match finished level at 2-2 and the lottery of the penalty shootout once again decided the fate of a major competition. A Superb Palop, whose gloves may still be stinging, saved three penalties out of four. Sevilla were champions once more, with Palop as the leading man. Ninety fantastic minutes, a collosal extra time and an epic conclusion in penalty shoot-out. In the mean time, people at Valencia are still looking for a time machine to correct the mistakes they made by parting with "este chico"...

It would be fabolous to see the final match of the European Supercup in Monaco between the two best spanish goalkeeperrs of the moment, Andres Palop and Liverpool’s Pepe Reina. Without doubt the most desired scenery for many fans, and a winning nomination for best movie.