Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero

The Estadio Martínez Valero is a stadium located in the Spanish city of Elx in the province of Alacant, Valencian Community. It is the home stadium of Elche CF, a team that is currently playing in the Segunda División. Its name pays tribute to the late president of the club, Manuel Martínez Valero. It hosted the largest rout in the finals of a World Cup and hosted the final of the Copa del Rey in 2003. The Spanish football team has played several friendly matches and competitive qualifiers there. The stadium has the largest field dimensions in Europe.

Estadi Manuel Martínez Valero
Former namesNuevo Estadio del Elche C.F.
(1976–1988)
LocationElx, Spain
Coordinates38°16′01″N 0°39′48″W
OwnerElche CF
OperatorElche CF
Capacity33,732[1]
Field size108 metres (118 yd) x 70 metres (77 yd)
Construction
OpenedSeptember 8, 1976
ArchitectJuan Boix Matarredona
Tenants
Elche CF (1976–present)
Spain national football team (selected matches)

With a capcity of 33,732 seats, Martínez Valero is the 12th-largest stadium in Spain and the 2nd-largest in the Valencian Community.

History

The Martínez Valero Stadium was inaugurated on 8 September 1976, replacing the former Campo de Altabix, which was constructed in 1923. It was designed by the architect Juan Boix Matarredona, and is currently the largest sports arena in the province of Alicante. The inaugural match was Elche CF v. the Mexico National Team, which ended in a 3-3 tie. Elche CF's goals were scored by Finarolli, Orellana and Gomez Voglino. It was one of 17 stadiums where matches took place in the 1982 FIFA World Cup. On June 15, 1982, it was the venue as Hungary achieved a record winning margin in World Cup history, beating El Salvador 10-1 before a crowd of 23,000. In addition, the Martinez Valero Stadium hosted the final of the Copa del Rey for the 2002-03 season. It is listed by UEFA as an Elite Stadium - Four Stars.

In the 2013-2014 season the stadium received the AFEPE (organization which unites fan clubs of all Spanish clubs) Award for Best La Liga Stadium.[2]

International matches

Spain national team matches
DateOpponentScoreCompetition
19 February 1986 Belgium3–0Friendly match
15 November 1995 Macedonia3–0UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
10 September 2003 Ukraine2–1UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
3 June 2006 Egypt2–0Friendly match
26 March 2008 Italy1–0Friendly match
11 September 2018 Croatia6–02018–19 UEFA Nations League

1982 FIFA World Cup

The stadium was one of the venues of the 1982 FIFA World Cup (known as the Nuevo Estadio at the time of the tournament), and held the following matches:

Date Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
1982-06-15 Hungary10–1 El SalvadorGroup 3 (First Round)23,000
1982-06-19 Belgium1–0 El SalvadorGroup 3 (First Round)15,000
1982-06-22 Belgium1–1 HungaryGroup 3 (First Round)37,000
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References
  2. Directo, Elche. "El Martínez Valero, designado el mejor estadio de España". www.elchedirecto.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-10-19.
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