Javi Martos

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Martos and the second or maternal family name is Espigares.

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

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 41)
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

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]