A Soccer Family For Life

STARKVILLE – Ever since she was a little kid kicking a soccer ball around on the playgrounds in her hometown of Madrid, Spain, Mississippi State senior forward Aitana Martinez-Montoya aspired to compete against the best in the world.

With an undeniable desire and determination to be at the top of her game, Martinez-Montoya has achieved her dream of playing against top-level competition while repping the Maroon and White kit.

But most importantly, she found her home and an eternal soccer family in Starkville.

"As well as [head coach James Armstrong] is like a father to me, these girls are like my sisters," Martinez-Montoya said. "They were very welcoming since the very beginning. They're always willing to help [and] they're open-minded about everything and they listen and respect me not just because of the soccer player I am, but because of the person I am. I built long-lasting friendships and relationships with not only my teammates but also other sports [at MSU]."

Growing up in Spain, Martinez-Montoya was accustomed to the historic soccer culture that is a staple in her home country. At five years old, she would spend hours on end playing soccer with a ball in a plastic bag, as she clamored for an opportunity to play with and against those in the prominently all-male neighborhood.

Much to her parents' dismay, Martinez-Montoya pleaded with her family to support her aspirations to become a soccer player. When they realized the raw talent and potential that she possessed, they were left with no choice but to let Martinez-Montoya do what she does best.

And what the athletic fútbol athlete does best, is leave it all on the pitch.

"My parents, at first, didn't want me to play soccer but I was very, very persistent," Martinez-Montoya said. "They [finally] paid for me [to compete] for a club and realized that I was pretty good and just like that I was playing. [The] passion was always in me, but it was kind of hard since I was a girl. From five to 14, I played with all guys. Then, I transferred to Atlético, which is one of the big clubs in Spain, [before] I came to the United States."

From there, Martinez-Montoya spent two years at FDU where she recorded 21 goals in 3,102 minutes on the pitch for the Knights. She was named as the Northeast Conference's Offensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons and also claimed the NEC's Golden Boot Award given to the best scorer in the conference.

After her sophomore season, the Madrid native decided to bring her talent to Starkville to compete for the Bulldogs.

"One of the biggest things for me, apart from [competing] in the Power Five, is that whenever I talked to coach James or coach [Nick Zimmerman], I felt that it reflected them also," Martinez-Montoya said. "They wanted to build a program of champions and they said they wanted me to be a part of it. The biggest things for me is the soccer passion and wanting to make history and be better every day."

Every season when the Bulldogs add newcomers to the roster, Armstrong consistently reminds them to leave the jersey better than you found it. That fundamental principle rings throughout the minds of veterans like Martinez-Montoya as their collegiate careers come to a close.

On State's 1-0 senior night victory over Baylor, the emotions flowed from Martinez-Montoya when reminiscing about her time at MSU and how extremely important it was for her to work hard and challenge her fellow teammates to leave everything they had out on the pitch, in the weight room, in the classroom and even out in the community for State this season.

That mindset is one of champions, but it is also that of a leader. When you ask her fellow teammates how Martinez-Montoya is as a captain for the program, their faces light up in an instant before they speak for minutes on end about the long-lasting impression she has left on the program that has helped shape the foundation for the future of incredible soccer in Starkville.

The gritty forward is forever grateful for the bonds, friendships and relationships that have bloomed from her time at State. But she feels an equal amount of gratitude to those Bulldog faithful who have displayed an undeniable and unwavering support for the program.

"What I like most about Starkville is the college town environment. The support from the fans is incredibly important to us," Martinez-Montoya said. "They push us and they want the best for us, as well as the coaches, and I think that is the most important thing. My teammates [and coaches] are amazing, not only as players and coaches, but also as people."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Aitana Martinez-Montoya

Related Videos