Martos as a CSKA Sofia player | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Javier Martos Espigares | ||
| Date of birth | 4 January 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Alamedilla, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position | 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 | |||
Francisco Javier 'Javi' Martos Espigares (born 4 January 1984) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a centre-back.
He spent most of his professional career with Charleroi, having signed with the club in January 2011. [1]
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]