The Murcia native has the whistle for his first Copa del Rey final after previously directing two national finals that Madrid also clinched in the Super Cup era.
Thus arrives the 2023 Copa del Rey final, one of the year’s most memorable matches, where Real Madrid faces Osasuna in La Cartuja, with the match official already announced by the Spanish Football Federation.
Who is Sánchez Martínez, the referee of the Copa del Rey 2023 final: history, statistics and precedents with Real Madrid and Osasuna
The 2023 final will be led by Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez, a referee born in Lorca in 1983. This marks the third national final he oversees and his first Copa del Rey final. Earlier in his career he managed the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup in 2017 between Real Madrid and Barcelona, a match won by Barcelona 2-0, and in 2020 he took charge of Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao, a game that ended with Madrid lifting the title on penalties.
Sanchez Martinez hails from the Murcia footballing classroom and made his top-flight debut in 2015, becoming a FIFA international referee in January 2017. He has officiated multiple high level fixtures in European competitions, including matches in the Champions League and the Europa League, adding to his growing résumé.
During the current season, he oversaw three Real Madrid matches, all victories, including two wins at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Betis, a 2-1 triumph, and the first Clasico of the season with a 3-1 result against Barcelona, along with a 2-0 win at San Mames against Athletic Bilbao. He has managed one Osasuna match in the same period, a 0-0 draw.
In this Copa edition, he officiated three games as well, overseeing L Alfora against Elche in the opening round, Levante versus Getafe in the round of 16, and Barcelona versus Real Sociedad in the quarterfinals, providing a broad view of his handling style across the competition.
The decision to appoint him came in a video call released by the federation where the head of the refereeing committee expressed pride and confidence. The appointment was described as unanimous by the federation leadership, and the official showed clear emotion about directing his first cup final in a national competition.
History, statistics and precedents of Sánchez Martínez as a referee for Real Madrid and Osasuna
Sanchez Martinez is a referee who has frequently overseen Real Madrid matches, a trend that has shaped much of his career. Curiously, he has not yet directed a match between Real Madrid and Osasuna, a pairing that could provide an unusual angle in this final.
In terms of performance with the Whites, the referee has presided over 30 Madrid fixtures with positive results in the majority of those encounters. Real Madrid won nineteen of those matches, suffered five defeats, and drew the remaining. Madrid has benefited from his officiating in terms of discipline, with five penalties awarded against opponents and only two against Real Madrid, while he has shown three red cards in favor of the team.
On Osasuna’s side, historical data present a different picture. In the eleven games he has directed for the rojillos, the team recorded three wins, and Osasuna faced a disciplined approach with only one red card shown and two penalties awarded to the team, while none were awarded against them in those matches. This mix of outcomes adds an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming collision, as both clubs will be weighing the risk and reward of every decision in a final that carries significant emotional and sporting weight.
Source: Goal