Benidorm pays an emotional tribute to Nerea Pérez Machado and the Martínez Munuera brothers by naming three football fields after them

Benidorm soccer player Nerea Pérez Machado and referees Juan and Miguel Martínez Munuera unveiled plaques bearing their names today on the new football fields at Guillermo Amor Sports City, thus culminating the tribute that Benidorm City Council has paid to these athletes in recognition of their successful careers. The Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, and the Councillor for Sports, Javier Jordá, along with numerous representatives of the municipal council, family, and friends, gathered for this emotional event, which was also attended by a wide representation of referees and people associated with soccer. Among them was the President of the Valencian Community Football Federation, Salvador Gomar. Toni Pérez recalled that the Benidorm City Council plenary session unanimously approved last February to name the field, previously known as the "Annex" to Guillermo Amor Stadium, and the two new 11-a-side football fields (four 8-a-side football pitches) installed at the Sports City after Nerea Pérez Machado and the Martínez Munuera Brothers, "where the three have spent so many afternoons training since their childhood and have forged their respective careers."

"Beyond naming these football pitches after themselves, what we are doing today is bringing the thousands of Benidorm residents and people who are not from Benidorm but visit us closer to the fact that Benidorm has people who grew up in these facilities and who carry the city's name around the world through sport," the mayor stated. “Benidorm is grateful for all you have given to our city,” he told them, after praising the “tremendous effort” of the athletes themselves and of “the fathers, mothers, grandparents, uncles, who have been behind Nerea, Juan, Miguel, and many other boys and girls, who have accompanied them to training sessions and matches, who have supported them in every way, and who are also part of their successes.”

Regarding Nerea Pérez Machado, the mayor emphasised that “in addition to being a great athlete, she is also a pioneer and role model for many girls in our city and beyond” at a time when women's soccer teams are gaining increasing importance in the sport. Meanwhile, regarding the Martínez Munuera brothers, Toni Pérez stated that “being an ambassador for your town in such an important field as refereeing, not only in the Spanish first division but also internationally, makes us very proud.”

After unveiling the plaque with her name, a deeply moved Nerea Pérez Machado recalled her beginnings as a soccer player when she was just a child, and that her first steps in the sport were taken on a field that, from today, bears a huge banner with her name, something she admitted she "had never imagined." Likewise, the Villarreal player stated that it is "a huge honour" and thanked "the mayor, the councillors, and everyone who has made it possible for us to be here today," including her parents, family, and friends, for "following me in this madness of soccer."
For his part, Juan Martínez Munuera also expressed his "great emotion" over the recognition and publicly acknowledged the work of all the staff at the municipal sports facilities and the Department of Sports for their "constant support." The referee explained that "they've always made everything easy for us," despite acknowledging that "when you're a referee, it's difficult to have facilities available, a locker room, people to support and help you in your career, and to accompany you in training, and we've always found that support here."

He also expressed his gratitude for the "courage" of the recognition, unanimously agreed upon by the plenary session, at the proposal of Mayor Toni Pérez: "The courage because it's not easy to recognize the work of referees, because it often seems like we're not part of the show or we're not athletes, which makes refereeing a difficult situation these days." Therefore, he expressed that this recognition "can serve as a stimulus for many boys and girls to take the step of becoming referees."

Finally, the president of the Valencian Community Football Federation also took the floor to congratulate the three athletes honoured today. Salvador Gomar stated that "you have a city that is recognized worldwide for many things: its urban planning, its beaches, its spectacle, but also for the great athletes who have come from Benidorm, such as Nerea, Juan, and Miguel, as well as others, such as the man who gives this sports city its name, Guillermo Amor."

About the honorees

Last February, Benidorm City Council unanimously approved the proposal submitted by Mayor Toni Pérez for this public recognition. The motion states that "both Nerea Pérez and the Martínez Munuera brothers have achieved sporting achievements and successes throughout their careers and are examples of dedication, effort, and perseverance for the youth of Benidorm."

Born in Benidorm in January 1994, Nerea Pérez Machado began practising all kinds of sports from a young age, finally opting for soccer when the sport was still primarily associated with the male gender. Nerea persevered in her pursuit of this sport, and Vicente Mir, former coach of Valencia Mestalla, Elche Ilicitano, and Hércules CF, among others, allowed her to join Benidorm CD, where she played from the first-year Benjamín category to the second-year U12, excelling at all stages of youth soccer.

When the Valencian Football Federation's regulations didn't allow her to play with boys, Nerea joined Valencia Féminas in the 1st Regional League. After a brilliant first season, she was signed by Hércules Femenino, a team in Group IV of the National First Division.

In the 2012/2013 season, she leapt into professional football, playing for Levante UD's women's team. There, she played in the National Women's First Division, later playing for Santa Teresa de Badajoz until reaching Villarreal, where she currently plays.

During her career, she has been a member of the Valencian Women's National Team and a player for the Spanish national team. With the national team, she was called up for the finals of the U-17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago, where the national team achieved third place, as well as for the finals of the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship in Türkiye, where they finished runners-up. In addition to her extensive career with these clubs, as well as in various categories of the Spanish national team, Nerea has also been a referee in the regional first division.

Also, the Martínez Munuera brothers, Juan and Miguel, have a career linked to football but with a very different vocation.

Juan was born in Benidorm in July 1982. From a very young age, he was involved with football and refereeing, being selected as a referee in 2011 by the UEFA Young Talent Program. At the beginning of the 2013-2014 season, after three seasons in the second division, he made his debut as a referee in the first division on August 19, 2013, and has now refereed more than 209 matches in this category.

Juan has been an international referee since January 1, 2015, and is currently one of the best referees in the VAR function. Likewise, in 2015, he was awarded the "Golden Whistle" of the First Division, an award presented annually by the National Referees Committee. Previously, in 2013, he was recognised with  "Vicente Acebedo" Trophy awarded by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

Miguel Martínez Munuera, born in Benidorm in April 1986 and the younger brother of Juan, has worked as an assistant referee, making his debut in the Spanish First Division on September 13, 2009.

Since January 1, 2015, he has served as an international assistant referee, highlighting his extensive resume of refereeing roles, which includes matches in the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, the Conference League, the Europa League, and the Champions League, as well as a total of 25 international matches for national teams.

The motion highlights that "both brothers have spent 32 and 25 years, respectively, dedicated to their passion, football, bearing with pride, like Nerea Pérez Machado, the name of Benidorm wherever their vocation and profession take them, being an example of dedication, effort, and perseverance for the youth of Benidorm."