Martínez trained atIndependiente's youth ranks before moving to Premier League clubArsenal in 2010. At Arsenal, he initially served as understudy, beingloaned to various clubs, before breaking into the starting line-up in 2019, featuring in the Premier League and helping the club win aFA Cup andFA Community Shield. In September 2020, Martínez moved to fellow Premier League club Aston Villa in a transfer worth £20 million. In his first season at the club, he kept a club-record fifteenclean sheets in the Premier League.
Born inMar del Plata, Martínez started his career playing forIndependiente's youth team. In 2009, shortly after his 17th birthday, he was invited to trial at Arsenal, and was initially offered a youth contract.[9]
After impressing in a trial and being approved for a work permit, Martínez was formally registered as an Arsenal player in July 2010.[10]
After injuries toRyan Clarke andWayne Brown, and the termination ofConnor Ripley'sloan, Martínez went on emergency loan toOxford United, making his debut in theFootball League in their final game of the season againstPort Vale inLeague Two on 5 May 2012;[11][12] Port Vale won 3–0.[13][14] Later that year, Martínez was named on the Arsenal substitute bench for their fixtures away atStoke City on 26 August and againstLiverpool on 2 September, as cover for the injuredWojciech Szczęsny andŁukasz Fabiański, respectively. On 26 September, he made his Arsenal debut in a 6–1 home win againstCoventry City in the third-round of theLeague Cup.[15] He made his second Arsenal appearance in the following round in a7–5 win away toReading.[16] Martínez subsequently transferred toChampionship clubSheffield Wednesday on an emergency 28-day loan on 15 October 2013.[17] He made his debut for Wednesday on 23 November, against Yorkshire rivalsHuddersfield Town. Martínez's loan was eventually extended until the end of the season.[18]
After returning to Arsenal, Martínez was an unused substitute as Arsenal won the2014 FA Community Shield on 10 August, with a 3–0 win overManchester City atWembley Stadium.[19] He made his debut in theChampions League soon after, helping Arsenal defeatAnderlecht 2–1 in the group stage.[20] He then made his Premier League debut as a second-half substitute, replacing the injured Szczęsny againstManchester United at theEmirates Stadium on 22 November.[21] With injuries to backup goalkeeperDavid Ospina, Martínez played his second Champions League game on 26 November, keeping aclean sheet in a 2–0 victory overBorussia Dortmund.[22] His "faultless" performance in the match led to him being named in the UEFA Team of the Week.[23] He made his first Premier League start on 29 November againstWest Bromwich Albion, and also started againstSouthampton four days later; he kept two clean sheets as Arsenal won both matches 1–0.[24][25]
On 20 March 2015, Martínez joined Championship clubRotherham United on an emergency loan until the end of the season.[26] He made his debut the following day againstSouth Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday, losing 3–2.[27] Despite the poor start, Rotherham finished the season strongly with Martínez in goal, only losing 1 of the last 6 games and avoided relegation. Despite only playing a dozen games from the club, his reflex saves in important games made him a fan favourite.[28]
On 2 August, Martínez was an unused substitute as new signingPetr Čech played for Arsenal in the2015 Community Shield, a 1–0 win overrivalsChelsea.[29] On 11 August, he joined Championship clubWolverhampton Wanderers on a season-long loan.[30] After making 15 appearances in the opening months of the campaign, he suffered a thigh injury that kept him out of contention for several months and was unable to regain his starting place afterwards.[31] He spent the 2016–17 season at Arsenal and played five matches during the campaign, including two Premier League appearances againstCrystal Palace andWest Ham United.[32]
On 2 August 2017, he joinedLa Liga clubGetafe on a season-long loan,[33] and on 23 January 2019, he was loaned to Championship club Reading until the end of the season.[34] At Reading, Martínez made his debut on 29 January againstBolton Wanderers, and won theman of the match award againstAston Villa a few days later.[citation needed]
WithBernd Leno being taken off injured during the first half of Arsenal's defeat toBrighton & Hove Albion on 20 June 2020, Martínez came off the bench to make his first Premier League appearance since the 2016–17 season.[35] This led to Martínez seeing out the season as first choice goalkeeper at the club and was highly commended for a string of stellar performances,[36][37] with former Arsenal strikerIan Wright describing him as "commanding" and as having played "brilliantly" during his extended spell in the team.[38] On 1 August, Martínez was selected to start in theFA Cup Final against Chelsea, making some crucial saves to help Arsenal win their 14th FA Cup; after lifting the trophy he was visibly emotional and reduced to tears.[39]
Martínez started in the2020 Community Shield against Liverpool on 29 August, which Arsenal won on penalties.[40] Following the match, there was much speculation that Martínez would leave the club with Bernd Leno returning and the player himself stated that he either wanted to stay at the club and be first-choice keeper or leave on a permanent basis.[41] With reported interest from a number of clubs, including Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion, Martínez was left out of the squad to faceFulham on the opening day of theleague season.[42]
On 16 September 2020, 28-year-old Martínez transferred to fellow Premier League clubAston Villa in a deal worth up to £20 million.[43][44] He signed a four-year contract.[45] On 21 September, Martínez made his debut for Villa, saving a penalty fromJohn Lundstram in a 1–0 home win againstSheffield United.[46][47] In his first season at Aston Villa, Martínez equalledBrad Friedel's club record for clean sheets in a Premier League season, with 15.[48] He was also named Aston Villa Supporters' Player of the Season.[49]
On 21 January 2022, Martínez signed a three-year contract extension which will see him contracted to Villa until the end of the 2026–27 season.[50] On 27 July, ahead of the new season, Martínez was named one of the two Aston Villavice-captains, alongsideDiego Carlos.[51][52] On 1 April 2023, Martínez made his 100th Premier League appearance for Aston Villa in a 2–0 away victory over Chelsea. That clean sheet was Martínez's 34th, which broke the club record of the most clean sheets in a goalkeeper's first 100 games – which was previously set at 33, by bothMark Bosnich and Brad Friedel.[53] On 18 April 2024, he saved two penalties in a 4–3 victory overLille following a 3–3 draw on aggregate, which qualified his club to theConference League semi-finals.[54]
On the eve of the2024–25 season, Martínez chose to switch his shirt number from the traditional number 1, to the number 23 shirt worn for Argentina during his successful cup campaigns with them.[55] On 21 August 2024, Martínez signed new long-term contract with Aston Villa, lasting until 2029.[56] Martínez won thePremier League Save of the Month award for December 2024, his first time winning the award, for a goal line save againstNottingham Forest in a 1–2 loss.[57] Martínez stopped a header fromNicolás Domínguez that went past him by reaching behind him and swatting it away as it was on the goal line.[58] During Aston Villa's final game of the season against Manchester United, Martínez was given a straight red card and sent off in the first half after making a challenge onRasmus Højlund outside the box.[59]
Martínez was called up to theArgentina senior squad to replaceOscar Ustari to faceNigeria in June 2011.[60] He received his second senior call up againstGermany andEcuador on 9 and 13 October 2019;[61] he was an unused substitute for both friendly matches.[62]
Having played a full season as first choice goalkeeper for Premier League side Aston Villa, 28-year-old Martínez made his international debut on 3 June 2021, in a 1–1 draw withChile in a2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match.[63] He subsequently made his competitive debut in a major tournament on 14 June, once again in a 1–1 draw against the same opponent in his team's opening match of the2021 Copa América at theEstádio Olímpico Nilton Santos in Brazil.[64] In the 57th minute, he saved a penalty fromArturo Vidal, but he failed to preventEduardo Vargas from scoring on the rebound.[65] On 6 July, Martínez saved three spot kicks in a 3–2 penalty shootout victory for Argentina overColombia in the semi-final of the tournament.[66] He went on to finish the tournament with a clean sheet in the 1–0 victory overBrazil in thefinal.[67] Martínez was also awarded the 2021 Copa América's Golden Glove award as the best keeper of the tournament for his performances.[68]
On 15 June 2024, he was selected in the 26-man squad for the2024 Copa América.[77] In the quarter-final match against Ecuador, he saved two penalty kicks following a 1–1 draw, securing his country's qualification to the semi-finals.[78] On 14 July 2024, Martínez played the full match as Argentina defeatedColombia 1–0 after extra time in the2024 Copa América final.[79] Martínez was also named winner of the Golden Glove for the second time.[80]
On 28 September 2024, Martínez was banned by FIFA from taking part in two matches for "violating principles of fairplay" in two separate incidents. The first was his holding a replica of the Copa America trophy to his groin after Argentina won in a World Cup qualifier against Chile on 5 September, while the second concerned his assault on a television camera after Argentina lost 2–1 to Colombia in another qualifier on 10 September.[81]
Sometimes considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world,[5][6][7] Martínez is known for his distribution and shot-stopping ability.[82] He has also been noted for his passionate style and bravado in goal,[83] as well as his technique and mentality when stoppingpenalty kicks.[84][4]
However, many have voiced the opinion that Martínez’s talent is exaggerated. In 2025,Phil McNulty,BBC Sport’s chief football writer, stated: “Some Aston Villa fans may regard this as sacrilege, but I actually think Emi Martínez is overrated. He is certainly not "the world's number one", as we are so often told. Far from it, in fact.”[85] In the run-up to the announcement of the winner of the2024 Yashin Trophy, football journalistic website3 Added Minutes noted that Martínez's goals prevented relative to expected goals ranked unfavorably compared to fellow nomineesYann Sommer,Unai Simón,Gianluigi Donnarumma,Giorgi Mamardashvili, andGregor Kobel.[86] After Martínez won the award,Goal journalist James Westwood opined that “He has certainly enjoyed holding that title, but does he really deserve it? The answer is no, especially not ahead of truly world-class operators likeThibaut Courtois,Alisson Becker,Jan Oblak and Gianluigi Donnarumma. Martinez is a good goalkeeper who has done remarkably well to achieve so much after waiting eight years for his chance to shine at Arsenal, but he's not a great one. When Martinez eventually hangs up his gloves, he will be remembered more for his antagonising abilities than those with his hands or feet.”[87] During the2023–24 season, Martínez became the goalkeeper with the most own goals to his name (3) in Premier League history.[88]
Criticism of Martínez intensified in the2024–25 season, where he conceded 45 goals in total.[89] Only four Premier League goalkeepers conceded more over the course of the season; additionally, of the 43 goalkeepers to play any number of minutes in the top flight since August, he ranked 36th in terms of the difference between the expected goals he faced and those he conceded.[89] Critics also perceived an increase in the number of major errors made by Martínez.[89]
Martínez has become known for specialising in savingpenalty kicks.
Martínez has particularly garnered notoriety for his performances inpenalty shoot-outs; in Martínez's four with Argentina as of July 2024, opponents have scored only 12 times from 24 attempts, a 50 per cent conversion rate, with Martínez saving nine spot kicks, with the other three misses being off-target.[84][90][91] By the end of 2022, Martínez saved seven of the 35 penalties he has faced during matches throughout his career, as well as another three missed – resulting in a 71 per cent success rate for opponents. Combining the 59 penalties faced by Martínez in regulation and competitive shoot-outs during that time span, Martínez saved 13 and seen five missed outright – a 69.5 per cent conversion rate.[92]
However, Martínez's role went beyond simply saving the penalties, but also using psychological tactics and measures ofgamesmanship to distract and intimidate the opposing penalty takers.[93] Former goalkeeperMatt Pyzdrowski, writing forThe Athletic, would elaborate Martínez's style: "in penalty-kick situations, Martínez has one of the most aggressive and disruptive approaches that you will ever see. His ultimate aim is to put as much pressure on the taker as possible and create a moment of hesitation or doubt during their run-up. And as we've seen time and again in recent years, it works."[4] Felipe Cardenas ofThe Athletic highlighted his "theatrical methods of intimidation" in 2024.[94]
Martínez's approach to penalties has drawn criticism for lackingsportsmanship.[95] French goalkeeperHugo Lloris, who participated in the same penalty shoot-out with Martínez and Argentina in the2022 FIFA World Cupfinal, but on the losing end, would later state "there are some things I can't do. Making a fool of myself in goal, rattling my opponents, crossing that line... I'm too rational and honest a man to go that way."[96] TheInternational Football Association Board was expected in 2023 to eventually change its rules to discourage keepers like Martínez from employing similar tactics in the future. When asked about the potential rule changes, Martínez responded "I already saved the penalties that I had to save."[97]
During a2021Premier League match betweenAston Villa andManchester United atOld Trafford, United were awarded a penalty in stoppage time, withBruno Fernandes being the player to take it. As preparations for the penalty began, Martínez openly questioned Fernandes why his United teammateCristiano Ronaldo was not taking it. Fernandes missed the penalty by kicking it over the crossbar, securing the 1–0 result and ensuring a win for Aston Villa at Old Trafford.[93]
Martínez employed a number of gamesmanship tactics during the 2022 FIFA World Cupquarter-final against theNetherlands. He pretended to hand the ball toSteven Berghuis before dropping it to force Berghuis to pick it up and set the ball himself, kicked the ball to the side while staring downTeun Koopmeiners prior to his turn, and also kicked the ball into the centre circle asWout Weghorst drew closer to the 18-yard box. Two Netherlands players—Berghuis andVirgil van Dijk—had their penalties saved by Martínez, resulting in Argentina advancing to the semi-final.[97][4]
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup final againstFrance, Martínez again used the same tactics. Before bothKylian Mbappé andKingsley Coman placed the ball for their kicks, Martínez argued with the referee to check if each one was definitely on the spot in order, to disrupt their preparations. Mbappé scored, though Coman had his penalty saved by Martínez. Prior toAurélien Tchouaméni's kick, Martínez grabbed the ball and then tossed it to the side, forcing Tchouaméni to retrieve it and adding more time and pressure to take his penalty, which he missed off-target. Martínez then shouted "I've watched you" and gesticulated toRandal Kolo Muani several times as the latter prepared for his shot, which caused the referee to issue ayellow card to Martínez. Kolo Muani converted his penalty, but Argentina would win the shoot-out and ultimately the World Cup.[99][98]
In the second leg of the2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-finals inNord, France between Aston Villa andLigue 1 sideLille, the Lille supporters proved they had not forgotten Martínez's World Cup antics against their national team, booing and jeering him heavily throughout the game. When the match culminated in a penalty shoot-out, Martínez was booked for gesturing towards the opposing fans to quiet after blocking a shot fromNabil Bentaleb. Despite being booked earlier in the game, Martínez was not sent off for a second yellow card, as the yellow card in the game did not carry over into the shoot-out. Villa would subsequently win 4–3 on penalties, with Martínez saving the final shot of the game againstBenjamin André.[100]
Martínez was given the names "Damián Emiliano" on his birth certificate, which caused confusion when he signed for Arsenal and everyone at the club was calling him Damián. "My name was actually going to be Emiliano Damian on my Argentinian ID," Martínez later explained. "But when my mum went to do it in the post office, I don't know where she done it, she was waiting hours and hours in the queue and when they done it they put Damian Emiliano first. To do it again she would have to wait two, three hours so she went 'it's ok, just do it like that, we're going to call him Emi anyway'. It was a bit confusing but now everyone calls me Emi. Damian used to be my grandad's middle name. My mum [originally] wanted just two names – Emiliano Martínez – but because my grandad passed away before I was born she wanted to put Damian in between the two names to have my grandad's name, nothing else."[101]
He is nicknamed "Dibu" (abbreviation ofDibujo, Spanish forDrawing), after an animated character in the ArgentinetelenovelaMi familia es un dibujo. Martínez was given the nickname as a young player by former goalkeeper and goalkeeper coachMiguel Ángel Santoro at Independiente, at a time when the series was highly popular.[102][103]
Martínez has been married to Amanda "Mandinha" (née Gama) since 2017. The couple have a son, Santi, and a daughter, Ava.[104][105]
On 22 December 2022, after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup with the national team, Martínez was given a welcome reception at Las Toscas resort, in his native city of Mar del Plata. According to the local press, there was an attendance of more than 150,000 people, both locals and tourists.[106]
^"Emiliano Martínez cedido al Getafe" [Emiliano Martínez loaned to Getafe] (in Spanish). Getafe CF. 2 August 2017.Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved2 August 2017.
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