Javi Martínez

Profile Football Stars | Javi Martínez | Athletic de Bilbao signed Martínez as a raw 17-year old for € 6 million, in the summer of 2006, from fellow La Liga team CA Osasuna, Despite him never having played a first team game. In 2009, he was the midfield engine of the team once more - 46 official matches, nine goals - he scored a career-best six times in the league campaign, as Athletic narrowly missed on another UEFA Europa League qualification. In the 2011-12 season, under new manager Marcelo Bielsa, Martínez began being regularly used as a central defender.

On 20 May 2010, he was named in the senior side's list of 23 for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, by manager Vicente del Bosque. Martínez played once in the final stages, Replacing injured Xabi Alonso for the final 20 minutes of the 2-1 group stage win against Chile, on 25 June, as Spain emerged victorious in the tournament.

Personal information
Full name Javier Martínez Aguinaga
Date of birth 2 September 1988 (age 23)
Place of birth Estella, Spain
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position Defensive midfielder / Centre back

Club information
Current club Athletic Bilbao
Number 24

Youth career
1993-1995 Berceo
1995-1997 Logroñés
CD Arenas
Izarra
Osasuna 2001-2005

Senior career
years Team
2005-2006 Osasuna B 32 (2)
2006-Athletic Bilbao 180 (20)

National team
2005 Spain U17 5 (0)
2006-2007 Spain U19 5 (0)
2007-2011 Spain U21 24 (1)
2010-Spain 7 (0)

Honours

Club
Athletic Bilbao
     Copa del Rey: Runner-up 2008-09
     Supercopa de España: Runner-up 2009

Spain
     FIFA World Cup: 2010
Spain U21
     UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship: 2011
Spain U19
     UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: 2007

Individual
     La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 2010