Javier Alberola Rojas and Damaso Arcediano Monescillo were the winners of Premio Guruceta for the Primera and Segunda Division referees in 2023-24. Both referees belong to the Committee of Castella-Manchego and both received the award for the second time.
Alberola Rojas is happy with his second Premio Guruceta: "I am very happy to receive it. When I was a young referee and saw the referee legend Guruceta, it's a pride and an honor for me. Receiving it twice makes me even more happy". Not long time ago, Alberola Rojas overcame a serious illness. "I was about to stop refereeing and football altogether. I was lucky that I was able to recover, worked very hard and now this award tastes twice as much because there was a time when it looked like I was not going to be able to referee anymore, but then I came back with a huge motivation. The fact that I was considered to deserve this award is a pride and a pleasure."
Arcediano Monescillo has been in Segunda Division for 14 seasons and, by the end of this year, will reach 300 games in the second category of Spanish football, a new record for the longest-serving referee in that category. His dream has been to get to Primera Division, and he fights for that dream every day: "I will always try to work hard, to do my best and, of course, I will never give up my dream to referee in Primera Division. It's one of my dreams and I work hard to get it. We all know it's difficult due to the high level of competition in refereeing, but I have to try it while I still can." He did not forget his team, his two assistants (Adrián and Marcos) who helped him get another Guruceta: "Without them, I am nothing and this Trophy is also theirs".
Source: Marca
