Goalkeeper Damián Emiliano Martínez Romero, born on 2nd September 1992, is an Argentine professional football player who plays for the Argentina national team and the Premier League’s Aston Villa. In his Premier League career, he has scored the most own goals of any goalie in the competition’s history—three.
Know More About Emiliano Martinez
Martinez has developed a reputation during his career for being an expert at penalty kick saves and shootouts. Martínez received his training at Independiente’s junior divisions before joining Arsenal in the Premier League in 2010. He started as an understudy at Arsenal and was loaned to several other teams before making his Premier League debut and leading the team to the FA Cup and FA Community Shield in 2019.
In September 2020, Martínez made a £20 million transfer to Aston Villa, a Premier League team. He set a club record with fifteen Premier League clean sheets in his debut season with the team. From 2009 to 2011, Martínez participated in youth international matches for Argentina, representing the under-17 and under-20 teams.
In 2021, he received his first senior cap for the Argentina national team, winning the Golden Glove award, helping his country win the Copa América, and maintaining a clean sheet in the championship game. Martínez went on to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and for his efforts, he was awarded the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper of the competition.
In addition, he won the Yashin Trophy in 2023 and was crowned The Best FIFA Goalkeeper in 2022 for his accomplishments. Besides, he has also been ranked as the 15th-best football player worldwide. Cheers and jeers greeted the Aston Villa goalkeeper as he walked onto the platform to pick up the Yashin Trophy.
Many fans were against the player because of his antics during the World Cup, when he shuffled and mocked French penalty takers. Martinez’s father, who has lately battled health issues, gave him the medal on an emotional occasion. In his acceptance speech, Martinez remarked, “I’m full of emotion to have won this.
“Without my teammates at Aston Villa and in the Argentina national team, this wouldn’t have been possible – this moment in my career. “I was looking at the screen with the previous award winners, and it is a really proud moment to join them. “We are part of the goalkeepers’ union and it is important to stick together!”
At the Ballon d’Or event in Paris last year, Aston Villa’s goalkeeper was honored.
Recent Game – Aston Villa vs Liverpool
Martinez is a name that Aston Villa can rely on for turning the game upside down. In the recent game against Liverpool, he scored a goal with just 61 seconds remaining in the match. He was caught off guard by a little nick in a cross into the box, which caused him to mishandle his low catch and ultimately push the ball over the line.
He also failed to get a large enough hand on Liverpool’s second goal from Gomez’s cross. Martinez nonetheless produced five stops, one of which was a late one on Nunez. Because of this, he gave Liverpool an unintentional lead, eventually making them win the game.
Martinez and His Three Own Goals
In February 2023, Martinez let up his first own goal as Villa fell to Arsenal 4-2. Jorginho’s long-range effort struck Martinez’s back and crossed the line after cannoning off the crossbar. Subsequently, he conceded his second own goal this season against Luton. Ezri Konsa attempted to head the ball back to the ‘keeper, but it looped over his head, struck Martinez, and rebounded off the bar.
After that, Martinez has three own goals on his record due to his error against Liverpool. After reviewing the event, Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “We said he had a big personality and character, he needed it in that first half to come back from that first goal.”
Martinez had an excellent season for Villa in goal, and despite his mistake, he was nominated to Neville’s Team of the Year. Alongside several well-known players, such as the defensive tandem of William Saliba and Gabriel from Arsenal, he has maintained seven clean sheets in the Premier League.
Emiliano and Arsenal Club
Emiliano Martinez, a former goalkeeper for Arsenal, has discussed his choice to join the Gunners in 2010 after moving from Argentina to England. The Aston Villa player left his native nation at 17 to travel to England. He signed with Arsenal after leaving Independiente, and he remained on the roster of the north London team for ten years before departing in 2020.
While on international duty with Argentina, Martinez recently disclosed to EL PAIS that he had a tough time deciding to join Arsenal at the time. However, he made the tough choice for his family. He said, “Arsenal came to look for me and Pepe Santoro [a coach at Independiente] told me that the train only passes once in a lifetime.”
“My family and my agents thought the same. So, the decision was more for them than anything else. “I didn’t want to go. I did not regret it, but I wanted to play in Independiente. For a while, I thought: ‘If I stayed, in two years I will make my debut. “[My family] lacked a little financially. I did it more for that than sports.”
After joining Arsenal, Martinez trained in the team’s academy for two seasons before going on his first loan to Oxford United in League Two. His career with the Gunners began the next season when they sent him to Getafe in La Liga and Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United, Wolves, and Reading in the Championship.
The 2019–20 season gave Martinez his first real go at playing for Arsenal, and he went on to assist the Gunners in winning the FA Cup and Community Shield before moving to Aston Villa.
Emiliano Martinez – Bio and Stats
| Name | Emiliano Martinez |
| Age | 30 |
| Club | Aston Villa |
| Team | Argentina |
| Height | 195 cm or 6’4” |
| Weight | 88 kg or 194 lbs |
| Contract | 2020 – 2027 |
| OVR | 86 |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Potential | 86 |
| Value | €45M |
| Wage | €105K |
| Position | GK (goalkeeper) |