Martin Valjent has overtaken Jovan Stankovic to become the third non-Spanish player with the most appearances for the club having featured 220 times in red and black.
Portugal's José Nunes at 258 appearances and ‘Caño’ Ibagaza at 247 appearances are the two players that remain ahead of our centre back.
Valjent took time out to meet with Stankovic to reflect on his time at the club and share experiences.
“I arrived at the age of 25. And yes, I adapted very quickly, but how can you not adapt with the time and the life here? I was in pre-season with Chievo Verona and I saw that they didn't count on me and out of the blue the possibility of coming here came up.
“Without knowing the conditions or anything else, I didn't hesitate to accept. It worked out great for me too, because for the first year, being on loan, they included a compulsory clause whereby, in case of promotion to the First Division, they had to buy me. That is how I became a Mallorca player and I'm still here.”
“The first year in which I arrived, Mallorca was, in December, sixteenth in the Second Division,” said Stankovic. “In six months we got into the play-offs and played promotion against Rayo. Here, in the Lluís Sitjar, we beat them 1-0. And we lost there because they were far superior because they came from the First Division.
“The following year the same thing happened. You play Rayo Vallecano. Here we beat them 1-0 and there, too. After that, Mallorca played 16 years in a row in the First Division.”
As well as sharing unforgettable promotions in the memory of Mallorquinistas, both have also played in a Copa del Rey final, which unfortunately did not go their way. However, a few months after the 1998 final, Mallorca won the Spanish Super Cup against FC Barcelona, the first title in their history. A narrative that Valjent hopes will be repeated 27 years later: "Even if the Cup didn't go well, winning the Super Cup should be a great motivation for us," said Valjent. "I feel this club as if it were my own. It really represents something that feels very much mine.
"I feel good here. The people of Mallorca like football a lot and I like the atmosphere of being in a bar and being approached by an older man who reminds you of things. It gives you so much," added Stankovic.
