Francisco Martos
Quick Facts
Biography
Francisco Javier 'Javi' Martos Espigares (born 4 January 1984) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Belgian club R. Charleroi S.C. as a right back.
He spent most of his professional career with Charleroi, having signed with the club in January 2011.
Football career
Born in Alamedilla, Granada, Martos spent one full decade in FC Barcelona's youth system, but only represented the C-team as a senior. On 20 May 2006 he played his first and only La Liga game, replacing also youth graduate Andrea Orlandi in the second half of a 1–3 loss against Athletic Bilbao at the San Mamés Stadium, as the Frank Rijkaard-led side had already been crowned league champions.
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, then resumed his career in amateur football, first with Girona FC then Atlético Malagueño. In the 2008 summer he joined Iraklis Thessaloniki FC, being first-choice and helping the team to back-to-back tenth-place finishes in the Superleague Greece.
In early December 2010, Martos went on trial with SD Eibar in his homeland, but nothing came of it. In the following year's winter transfer window, he signed a contract with R. Charleroi S.C. in Belgium.
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.