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

Roberto Soldado

Profile Football Stars | Roberto Soldado | After seasons of Prolific goalscoring with the club's B team, he made his first team debut on 23 October 2005, against Valencia CF, playing 18 minutes in a 1-2 home loss. Previously, on 28 September, he had scored an 86th minute winner after just six minutes on the pitch, in the season's UEFA Champions League contest against Olympiakos FC (2-1 home win), adding a late equalizer against CA Osasuna and another in a 3-2 success at Racing de Santander as Real finished second in the league, also netting in the 4-0 win Copa del Rey against Athletic Bilbao.

Soldado returned to Real Madrid where, on 11 July 2007, he renewed his contract with the team until 30 June 2012. Soldado started 2009-10 in impressive fashion, scoring three past Racing Santander in a 4-1 away win.  In early June 2010, after a Successful year at Getafe - 16 league goals, and the club qualified for the UEFA Europa League - Soldado returned to his hometown and signed for Valencia for € 10 million, Replacing FC Barcelona-bound David Villa.

On 2 April 2011, Soldado scored all of Valencia's goals in a 4-2 away win against former club Getafe. the first game of the 2011-12 season (second round), Soldado scored four goals against Racing Santander - one in his own net - in an eventual 4-3 home win. In late November 2011, in two home games separated by only five days, he added five more: two in a 2-3 home loss against Real Madrid and three in a 7-0 routing of KRC Genk for the Champions League group stage. Soldado took his tally to 15 league (and 25 for the campaign) on 18 March 2012, scoring all three of his team's goals in a 3-0 win at Bilbao.  Soldado represented Spain at all its youth levels, scoring a total of 26 goals.

Personal information
Full name Roberto Soldado Rillo
Date of birth 27 May 1985 (age 26)
Place of birth Valencia, Spain
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Valencia
Number 9

Youth career
Don Bosco
2000-2002 Real Madrid

Senior career
years Team
2002-2006 Real Madrid B 120 (63)
2005-2008 Real Madrid 16 (2)
2006-2007 Osasuna (loan) 30 (11)
Getafe 60 2008-2010 (29)
2010-Valencia 60 (33)

National team
2001 Spain U15 2 (0)
2001-2003 U17 Spain 18 (12)
2003 Spain U18 3 (3)
2002-2004 Spain U19 9 (5)
2004-2007 Spain U21 9 (6)
2007-Spain 3 (3)

Honors

Real Madrid
     La Liga: 2007-08
     Supercopa de España: Runner-up 2007

Spain U19
     UEFA U-19 Championship: 2004

Individual
     Zarra Trophy (Second Division): 2005-06