MADRID (AFP) - Valencia's new manager Ronald Koeman said Tuesday he has dropped two pillars of the team, goalkeeper Santiago Canizares and midfielder David Albelda, for at least the last two matches of the year.

"They are not young any more. We have taken the decision not to call them up" for the games against Irun in the Spanish Cup and Zaragosa in the league, he said.

"They are sidelined for these two matches, and after that we'll see," he told a news conference.

"These are tough decisions that we have to make for the good of Valencia, which is the most important," the Dutchman said. "I am thinking about other, younger, players in order to change things."

"Santi" Canizares, who turned 38 on Tuesday and has 46 caps for Spain, has been at the club since 1998. His contract runs until 2009.

Skipper Albelda, capped 50 times by Spain, is aged 30 and is linked to the club until 2011.

Koeman, appointed early last month to replace Quique Sanchez Flores, is under contract until 2010.

Valencia, Spanish champions 2004, are currently 7th in the league. They have been eliminated from all European competitions after finishing bottom of their Champions League group.

The team travels to Division Three side Irun on Wednesday for a match in the last 16 of the Spanish Cup, and to Zaragosa on Saturday for a league game.