Sanchez Martinez's most special day: "This match is the pinnacle for any referee"
The referee who is in charge of this Saturday's final is very focused on the transcendental match in Seville
With the poise and confidence that he is known for during matches, referee José María Sánchez Martínez is looking forward to what will be his first Copa del Rey final as the match's main referee.
"I was here during the final of the Spanish SuperCopa between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club," recalls this passionate football fan born in the Murcian town of Lorca and who will celebrate his first 40 years of life in 2023.
With his family members in the stands of La Cartuja in Seville, Sánchez Martínez has exercised on the pitch of the Seville coliseum and will continue preparing all the technical aspects before the clash between Real Madrid and CA Osasuna in the hotel. He will be assisted on the sidelines by Raúl Cabañero Martínez and José Enrique Naranjo Pérez, with Juan Martínez Munuera acting as fourth official and in the VOR room, Santiago Jaime Latre as VAR and Diego Barbero Sevilla as AVAR.
José María Sánchez Martínez has been a referee since he was 17 years old and during this time he has worked at all levels of Spanish football until becoming an international referee and officiating this Copa final: "It's a dream come true", he summarizes.
