New signing Irene Mateos, aka ‘Peque’ reinforce Almeria Women squad

Irene Mateos, who has been playing football since she was 6 years old, is the new signing for UD Almería Women. Irene is passionate about sports, especially football, which she describes it as something ‘essential’ in her life. The new player’s nickname is ‘Peque’ and has played for Granada CF since the 2014/15 season while studying a degree in Sport and Exercise Science in Granada. 

Irene was born in Archidona (Málaga) and started playing for the Málaga CF first-team at the age of 15. ‘I started playing football with boys and then I joined the Málaga CF second-team. I had the great privilege of making my debut in the first division when I was only 15 years old with Málaga Women, but unfortunately, that season the team were relegated’, she explained. Afterwards, she added that ‘I stayed playing for three seasons with the first-team within ‘Primera Nacional Femenina’ -third level of league competition for Spanish women’s football-, which today is also known as ‘Reto Iberdrola’ (Iberdrola challenge). Next, I moved to Granada to study at university, with the intention of not playing anymore and focus on my degree, yet the opportunity of joining Granada CF came along. I could not help it and in the end, I signed for the team’, she concluded. 

Irene Mateos has been playing for six seasons as a Nazari team (Nasrid) player, making a total of 66 appearances and managing to score 6 goals. Now, Irene moves to Almeria Women so as to reinforce the team led by Carlos Hinojo. The Malaga-born player confessed that ‘I want to find the best version of myself as a footballer and I truly think this is the right time and place.’ Head coach Carlos Hinojo stated that ‘Irene offers many options to play in the flank. Despite her age, she has a lot of experience and she will enormously help the youngest members of the team.’