Javi Martos

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Martos and the second or maternal family name is Espigares.
Javi Martos
Martos as a CSKA Sofia player
Personal information
Full name Francisco Javier Martos Espigares
Date of birth (1984-01-04) 4 January 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth Alamedilla, Spain
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
1993–2003 Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 Barcelona C 76 (1)
2006 Barcelona 1 (0)
2006–2007 CSKA Sofia 8 (0)
2007 Girona 18 (1)
2007–2008 Málaga B 24 (0)
2008–2010 Iraklis 45 (0)
2011–2019 Charleroi 286 (0)
2019–2020 Andorra 18 (1)
2020–2023 Prat 69 (3)
Total 545 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Francisco Javier 'Javi' Martos Espigares (born 4 January 1984) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a centre-back.

He spent most of his professional career with Charleroi, having signed with the club in January 2011.[1]

Club career

Born in Alamedilla, Province of Granada, Martos spent one decade in FC Barcelona's youth system,[2][3] but only represented the C team as a senior. On 20 May 2006 he played his only La Liga game, replacing fellow youth graduate Andrea Orlandi in the second half of a 3–1 loss against Athletic Bilbao at the San Mamés Stadium, as the Frank Rijkaard-led side had already been crowned league champions.[4]

Martos had a brief spell with PFC CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria after being released by the Blaugrana, becoming the first Spaniard to play in the First Professional Football League,[5] then resumed his career in amateur football, first with Girona FC then Atlético Malagueño. In the summer of 2008 summer he joined Iraklis Thessaloniki FC,[6] being first choice and helping the team to back-to-back tenth-place finishes in the Super League Greece.

In early December 2010, Martos went on trial with SD Eibar in his homeland,[7] but nothing came of it. In the following year's winter transfer window, he signed a contract with Royal Charleroi S.C. in Belgium.[8]

Martos was relegated from the Pro League in his first year, but achieved promotion in his first full season after only missing three league matches.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Le capitaine de Charleroi Javi Martos met un terme à sa carrière (vidéo)" [Charleroi captain Javi Martos puts an end to his career (video)] (in French). RTL International. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Debe ser el número 23" [Must be number 23] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 18 November 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  3. ^ "La entrevista: Javi Martos" [The interview: Javi Martos] (in Spanish). Calentando Banquillo. 6 October 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Athletic Bilbao 3–1 Barcelona". ESPN Soccernet. 20 May 2006. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  5. ^ Lelyov, Momchil (20 July 2006). "“А” група погледна към елита на Европа. За пръв път в първенството ще ритат холандец и испанец" [""А" Group looked towards Europe's elite. For the first time championship will feature Spaniards and Dutchmen] (in Bulgarian). 7 Sport. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  6. ^ "El granadino Javi Martos no acepta la oferta para seguir del Iraklis" [Granada native Javi Martos does not accept offer to remain at Iraklis]. Ideal (in Spanish). 24 August 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  7. ^ "El ex del Barcelona, Javier Martos, a prueba con el Eibar" [Former Barcelona man, Javier Martos, on trial with Eibar]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). 8 December 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  8. ^ Salcedo, David (22 January 2011). "Javi Martos, oficialmente nuevo jugador del Charleroi" [Javi Martos, officially new Charleroi player] (in Spanish). Tablón Deportivo. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  9. ^ Gol, Manolo (14 September 2023). "Javi Martos: "Todo tiene un principio y un final"" [Javi Martos: "Everything has a start and an end"]. Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.