Iñigo Martínez

Iñigo Martínez Berridi (Basque: [iɲiɣo maɾtines̻ beriði]; Spanish: [ˈiɲiɣo maɾˈtineθ βeˈriði]; born 17 May 1991) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao and the Spain national team mainly as a central defender.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Martínez and the second or maternal family name is Berridi.
Iñigo Martínez
Martínez with Spain in 2019
Personal information
Full name Iñigo Martínez Berridi
Date of birth (1991-05-17) 17 May 1991
Place of birth Ondarroa, Spain
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Athletic Bilbao
Number 4
Youth career
Aurrerá Ondarroa
2006–2009 Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Real Sociedad B 54 (2)
2011–2018 Real Sociedad 205 (16)
2018– Athletic Bilbao 76 (1)
National team‡
2011 Spain U20 1 (0)
2011–2013 Spain U21 15 (0)
2012 Spain U23 4 (0)
2013– Spain 11 (0)
2011– Basque Country 8 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 June 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2019

He spent most of his professional career with Real Sociedad, playing 238 matches (17 goals scored) across all competitions after making his debut at the age of 20.

Club career

Real Sociedad

Born in Ondarroa, Biscay, Martínez joined Real Sociedad's youth ranks from local CD Aurrerá Ondarroa.[2][3] He made his senior debut in the 2009–10 season, helping the B-team promote from the fourth division after one year out by contributing with 23 games and one goal.

On 27 August 2011, Martínez made his first-team – and La Liga – debut with the Basques, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 away win against Sporting de Gijón.[4] On 2 October he scored his first league goal, netting from inside his own half in an eventual 1–2 home loss to Athletic Bilbao, in a derby.[5]

Martínez with Real Sociedad, 2015

Martínez scored his third league goal in the same fashion, in a 3–2 win at Real Betis on 27 November (in the 90th minute).[6] He continued to be an automatic first-choice in the following top flight campaigns, notably helping the club return to the UEFA Champions League after 21 years in 2012–13 by netting four times[7][8][9][10] in 34 matches.

On 26 April 2016, Martínez signed a new five-year deal with Real Sociedad.[11]

Athletic Bilbao

On 30 January 2018, Martínez signed with Athletic Bilbao for €32 million (his contractual release clause amount and a record outlay for the buying club) on a deal until 2023.[12][13] The fee was around half of the figure received the same day for the player he replaced in the Athletic squad, Aymeric Laporte, who had moved to Manchester City.[14] He made his debut on 4 February, playing the entirety of a 0–2 domestic league defeat away to Girona FC.[15]

During October 2018, Martínez conceded two penalties for foul challenges in two local derby matches in the domestic league, both of which led to the opening goal and were awarded after Video assistant referee reviews – the first in a 3–1 home defeat to his old club Real Sociedad[16] and the second in a 1–1 away draw against SD Eibar.[17]

He scored his first goal for Athletic (in his 85th appearance for the club) with a backheel flick in a home league fixture against Real Betis on 20 June 2020; he later also gave away a penalty, but the kick was missed and his proved to be the only goal of the match.[18]

International career

Martínez made his debut for the Spain under-21 team in 2011. In the following year, he was picked by manager Luis Milla for his squad that appeared in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London;[19] in the first game against Japan he was sent off late into the first half for bringing down Kensuke Nagai thus denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, in an eventual 0–1 loss.[20]

Martínez made his debut with the full side on 14 August 2013, coming on as a second-half substitute for Sergio Ramos in a 2–0 friendly win over Ecuador.[21]

Style of play

A centre-back, Martínez has been likened to compatriot Carles Puyol, and is known for his heading ability, which makes him an aerial threat on set pieces, despite his modest stature of 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in). He is also known for his tackling, leadership qualities, and ability to read the game, as well as competence with the ball at his feet.[22]

Career statistics

Club
As of 20 June 2020[23][24]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Sociedad B 2009–10 Tercera División 231—231
2010–11 Segunda División B 311—311
Total 542—542
Real Sociedad 2011–12 La Liga 26320—283
2012–13 La Liga 34410—354
2013–14 La Liga 352507[N 1]0—472
2014–15 La Liga 342304[N 2]0—412
2015–16 La Liga 30110—311
2016–17 La Liga 34361—404
2017–18 La Liga 121103[N 3]0—161
Total 20516191140—23817
Athletic Bilbao 2017–18 La Liga 160—160
2018–19 La Liga 33020—350
2019–20 La Liga 27170—341
Total 76190—851
Career total 335192811400037720
Notes
    1. Matches in 2013–14 UEFA Champions League
    2. Matches in 2014–15 UEFA Europa League
    3. Matches in 2017–18 UEFA Europa League

    International
    As of 18 November 2019[25]
    Spain
    YearAppsGoals
    201320
    201620
    201820
    201950
    Total110

    Honours

    Spain U21

    Individual

    • UEFA U-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2013[26]

    References
    1. "I. Martínez". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
    2. González, Miguel (16 June 2010). "Zubieta garantiza un futuro prometedor" [Zubieta guarantees a promising future]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 December 2017.
    3. Ortiz de Lazcano, J. (7 February 2018). "La Real abonará 600.000 euros al Aurrera de Ondarroa por la salida de Iñigo" [Real will pay 600,000 euros to Aurrera Ondarroa for the departure of Iñigo]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 October 2018.
    4. "Agirretxe at the double for Sociedad". ESPN Soccernet. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
    5. "Llorente at the double for Bilbao". ESPN Soccernet. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
    6. "Martinez lifts Sociedad". ESPN Soccernet. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
    7. "La Real Sociedad logra la segunda victoria de la temporada" [Real Sociedad get second win of season] (in Spanish). EITB. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
    8. Espina, José A. (3 March 2013). "Espectacular empate entre la Real Sociedad y el Betis" [Spectacular draw between Real Sociedad and Betis]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 May 2016.
    9. "Málaga CF defeated at the Anoeta (4–2)". Málaga CF. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
    10. "Remontada de Champions" [Champions comeback] (in Spanish). EITB. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
    11. Ramajo, Roberto (26 April 2016). ""Dudé, pero la Real me demostró ver que estaba equivocado"" ["I hesitated , but Real showed me the error of my ways"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 April 2016.
    12. "Iñigo Martínez signing". Athletic Bilbao. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
    13. McGee, Nicholas (30 January 2018). "Athletic Bilbao sign Inigo Martinez to replace Aymeric Laporte". Goal. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
    14. "Aymeric Laporte: Manchester City sign French defender for club-record £57m". BBC Sport. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
    15. Bernad Suelves, Marc (4 February 2018). "Stuani castiga al Athletic y el Girona ya aspira a Europa" [Stuani punishes Athletic and Girona already aspire to Europe]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 February 2018.
    16. "Football news – Two penalties give Real Sociedad derby win at Athletic Bilbao". Eurosport. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
    17. "Eibar 1–1 Athletic Bilbao: Drastic form continues for Basque visitors". La Liga News. 21 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
    18. "Estocada a Rubi en Bilbao" [Lunge at Rubi in Bilbao]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 20 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
    19. "Euro 2012 trio Mata, Alba & Martinez in Spain Olympic squad". BBC Sport. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
    20. Doyle, Paul (26 July 2012). "London 2012 Olympics: men's football, Spain 0–1 Japan – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
    21. Estepa, Javier (15 August 2013). "Taconeo ante Ecuador" [Taconeo against Ecuador]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 August 2013.
    22. "World Cup Squad Selector: I Martinez". Football España. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
    23. "Iñigo Martínez: Iñigo Martínez Berridi". BDFutbol. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
    24. Iñigo Martínez at Soccerway
    25. "Iñigo Martínez". European Football. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
    26. Ashby, Kevin (21 June 2013). "Thiago leads all-star squad dominated by Spain". UEFA. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
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