Roger Martínez (footballer, born 2004)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Martínez and the second or maternal family name is Santamaría.
Roger Martínez
Personal information
Full name Roger Martínez Santamaría
Date of birth (2004-04-05) 5 April 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Badalona, Spain
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Lugo
(on loan from Espanyol)
Number 24
Youth career
Cornellà
2013–2016 Barcelona
2016–2021 Espanyol
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Espanyol B 87 (7)
2023– Espanyol 2 (0)
2024– → Lugo (loan) 13 (1)
International career‡
2018–2019 Spain U15 7 (0)
2020 Spain U16 3 (0)
2021–2022 Spain U18 8 (0)
2022–2023 Spain U19 6 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 February 2023

Roger Martínez Santamaría (born 5 April 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for CD Lugo, on loan from RCD Espanyol.

Club career

Born in Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Martínez represented UE Cornellà and FC Barcelona before joining RCD Espanyol's youth categories in 2016. He made his senior debut with the reserves at the age of 16 on 15 November 2020, coming on as a late substitute for Iván Gil in a 3–1 Segunda División B home loss against Lleida Esportiu.[1]

Martínez scored his first senior goal on 16 April 2022, netting the B's second in a 2–1 home win over Terrassa FC.[2] He made his first team debut on 3 January of the following year, starting in a 3–1 home success over RC Celta de Vigo, for the season's Copa del Rey.[3][4]

Martínez made his La Liga debut on 7 January 2023, replacing Brian Oliván late into a 2–2 home draw against Girona FC.[5] On 25 April 2024, he renewed his contract with the Pericos until 2026,[6] and was loaned to Primera Federación side CD Lugo on 8 August.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Roger Martínez, talento prematuro al servicio del RCD Espanyol" [Roger Martínez, premature talent in the service of RCD Espanyol] (in Spanish). Golsmedia. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  2. ^ "L'Espanyol B guanya el Terrassa i continuarà líder" [Espanyol B defeat Terrassa and will remain as leaders] (in Catalan). Betevé. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  3. ^ "El Espanyol tumba al Celta en una dura 'batalla'" [Espanyol bring down Celta in a hard 'battle'] (in Spanish). Marca. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Roger Martínez, el 'Gavi' perico" [Roger Martínez, the 'Gavi' perico] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Un bonito pero inservible empate" [A beautiful but useless draw] (in Spanish). Marca. 7 January 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Roger Martínez, ¡renovado!" [Roger Martínez, renewed!] (in Spanish). RCD Espanyol. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Roger Martínez, cedido al Lugo" [Roger Martínez, loaned to Lugo] (in Spanish). RCD Espanyol. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.