Manel Martínez

Manel Martínez
Personal information
Full name	José Manuel Martínez Bel
Date of birth	25 March 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth	Cabrera de Mar, Spain
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	CE Sabadell
Number	9
Youth career
2000–2004	La Salle Premià
2004–2010	Damm
2010–2011	Cornellà
College career
Years	Team
2012–2014	VCU Rams
Senior career*
Years	Team
2011	Cornellà
2011–2012	Masnou
2012	Europa
2013	RVA FC
2015–2016	Sabadell B
2016	Sabadell
2016–2018	Peralada
2016–2017	→ Llagostera (loan)
2017–2018	→ Lorca (loan)
2018–2019	Murcia
2019–2020	Marbella
2020–2022	Atlético Baleares
2022	Surkhon Termez
2023	Racing Ferrol
2023–	Sabadell
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 March 2024

José Manuel "Manel" Martínez Bel (born 25 March 1992) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a forward for CE Sabadell.

Club career

Born in Cabrera de Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia, Manel finished his formation with UE Cornellà. He made his senior debut for the club in 2011, and subsequently moved to CD Masnou.

In 2012, after a short period at CE Europa,^[1] Manel moved abroad for the first time in his career, joining Virginia Commonwealth University's team VCU Rams while studying. On 17 June 2013, he signed for National Premier Soccer League club RVA FC, being crowned champions with the side.^[2]

In January 2015 Manel returned to his homeland, signing for CE Sabadell FC B still in the fourth division. He renewed his contract until 2017 on 16 June,^[3] and after scoring 13 goals in only 18 matches, was promoted to the main squad on 31 December;^[4] he also extended his contract for a further season.^[5]

On 22 July 2016 Manel joined Segunda División side Girona FC,^[6] but was loaned to UE Llagostera in the third tier on 18 August, for one year.^[7] After scoring 14 goals for the latter he joined Lorca FC on loan the following 15 May,^[8] and helped the club in the play-offs as it achieved promotion to the second division for the first time ever.

Manel made his professional debut on 18 August 2017, starting in a 2–0 home win against Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa.^[9] The following 11 January he cut ties with the club,^[10] returning to Girona and being immediately assigned to the reserves in the third division.^[11]

On 17 July 2018, Manel signed for Real Murcia still in the third tier.^[12] In the following season, Manel joined Marbella FC.^[13]

Personal life

Manel is the son of former FC Barcelona defender Manolo.^[14]

Honours

RVA FC

National Premier Soccer League: 2013

References

^ "Édgar i Manel, primeres altes del primer equip" [Édgar and Manel, first signings of the first team] (in Catalan). CE Europa. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
^ "International addition". RVA FC. 17 June 2013. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
^ "Manel Martínez y Cesc Clotet renuevan con el CE Sabadell" [Manel Martínez and Cesc Clotet renew with CE Sabadell] (in Spanish). CE Sabadell. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
^ "Manel Martínez puja al primer equip del Sabadell i es converteix en el primer 'fitxatge' del mercat d'hivern" [Manel Martínez ascends to the first team of Sabadell and becomes the first 'signing' of the winter market] (in Catalan). Ràdio Sabadell. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
^ "Manel, renovado" [Manel, renewed] (in Spanish). CE Sabadell. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
^ "Manel, un nou davanter per al Girona" [Manel, a new forward to Girona] (in Catalan). Girona FC. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
^ "Manel, cedido a la UE Llagostera" [Manel, loaned to Llagostera] (in Spanish). Girona FC. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
^ "Manel Martínez refuerza al Lorca FC" [Manel Martínez bolsters Lorca FC] (in Spanish). Lorca FC. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
^ "El Lorca aterriza a lo grande en Segunda" [Lorca land through the big door in Segunda] (in Spanish). Marca. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
^ "Manel Martínez se desvincula del Lorca Fútbol Club" [Manel Martínez leaves Lorca Fútbol Clube] (in Spanish). Lorca FC. 11 January 2018.
^ "El davanter Manel acabarà la temporada amb el Peralada" [The forward Manel will end the season at Peralada] (in Catalan). Diari de Girona. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
^ "Manel Martínez, pólvora para la delantera del Real Murcia" [Manel Martínez, powder to the attack of Real Murcia] (in Spanish). Real Murcia. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
^ El Marbella FC incorpora al delantero Manel Martínez, marbelladirecto.com, 25 June 2019
^ "Manolo Martínez: "El meu fill Manel encara té un ampli marge de millora"" [Manolo Martínez: "My son Manel still has a large room for improvement"] (in Catalan). Ràdio Sabadell. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.