History of Emiliano Martínez in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 13, 2026

Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez is an Argentine professional footballer renowned as one of the world's top goalkeepers. After years as a reserve at Arsenal, he rose to prominence following a move to Aston Villa in 2020. Martínez is celebrated for his exceptional shot-stopping abilities, command of the penalty area, and expertise in penalty shootouts. He became a national hero during Argentina’s historic 2022 FIFA World Cup victory, where his pivotal saves and psychological tactics were instrumental in securing the title. His performance in the final earned him the Golden Glove award. Beyond his technical prowess, Martínez is recognized for his intense competitiveness and confrontational style, which often polarizes fans while galvanizing his teammates. His journey from an overlooked prospect to a global champion highlights his resilience, mental fortitude, and significant impact on modern goalkeeping.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

10 August 2014: 2014 FA Community Shield Victory

On 10 August 2014, Emiliano Martínez served as an unused substitute for Arsenal as they secured a 3–0 victory against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium to win the FA Community Shield.

11 May 2026: First Career Assist

On 11 May 2026, Emiliano Martínez achieved a personal milestone by recording his first-ever assist during a 2-2 draw against Burnley.

16 September 2020: Transfer to Aston Villa

On 16 September 2020, 28-year-old goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez finalized a transfer from his previous club to the Premier League side Aston Villa for a fee of up to £20 million, signing a four-year contract.

September 1992: Birth of Damián Emiliano Martínez Romero

On September 2, 1992, Damián Emiliano Martínez Romero, widely known as Dibu Martínez, was born. He would eventually go on to become a renowned professional goalkeeper for Aston Villa and the Argentina national team.

Others born on this day/year

20 May 2026: 2026 UEFA Europa League Victory

On 20 May 2026, Martínez started in goal for Aston Villa as they secured a 3–0 victory over SC Freiburg to win the 2026 UEFA Europa League final.

2009: International Youth Debut

In 2009, Emiliano Martínez began his international career by representing Argentina at the under-17 level.

2009: Arsenal Trial and Youth Contract

In 2009, shortly after turning 17 years old, Emiliano Martínez was invited to participate in a trial with the English club Arsenal, which resulted in him being offered a youth contract to join their academy.

July 2010: Formal registration as an Arsenal player

In July 2010, Emiliano Martínez was officially registered as a player for Arsenal after successfully completing a trial and obtaining the necessary work permit.

2010: Transfer to Arsenal

In 2010, Emiliano Martínez transitioned from the youth ranks of Independiente to join the Premier League club Arsenal.

June 2011: First Argentina Senior Squad Call-Up

In June 2011, Emiliano Martínez received his first call-up to the Argentina senior national football team, selected as a replacement for Oscar Ustari for a match against Nigeria.

2011: Conclusion of Junior International Career

By 2011, Martínez concluded his period playing for the Argentine youth squads, having participated at both the under-17 and under-20 levels.

May 2012: Football League Debut with Oxford United

On 5 May 2012, Emiliano Martínez made his professional Football League debut while on emergency loan at Oxford United during a match against Port Vale. Although he entered the game as a result of teammate injuries, his debut concluded with a 3–0 loss to Port Vale.

October 2013: Emergency Loan Transfer to Sheffield Wednesday

On 15 October 2013, Martínez joined the Championship club Sheffield Wednesday on an initial 28-day emergency loan deal to gain further playing experience.

March 2015: Loan move to Rotherham United

In March 2015, Emiliano Martínez joined the Championship club Rotherham United on an emergency loan. During this period, he established himself as a fan favorite through his reflex saves and helped the team avoid relegation by finishing the season strongly.

2015: Arsenal 2015 Community Shield Victory and Loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers

On 2 August 2015, Emiliano Martínez served as an unused substitute during Arsenal's 1-0 Community Shield victory against Chelsea. Subsequently, on 11 August 2015, he was sent on a season-long loan to the Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he eventually lost his starting position following a thigh injury.

2016: End of 2016-17 season Premier League tenure

The year 2016 serves as the baseline for the 2016-17 season, which marked the last time Emiliano Martínez appeared in the Premier League for Arsenal before his eventual return to the starting lineup in June 2020.

2016: Return to Arsenal for the 2016-17 Season

Throughout the 2016-17 season, which began in 2016, Martínez returned to Arsenal, where he participated in five matches across all competitions, including two appearances in the Premier League against Crystal Palace and West Ham United.

August 2017: Loan move to Getafe

In August 2017, Emiliano Martínez moved to the La Liga club Getafe to play on a season-long loan agreement.

January 2019: Loan move to Reading

On 23 January 2019, Martínez joined the Championship club Reading on a loan deal that lasted until the conclusion of the season.

October 2019: Senior Squad Call-Up for Friendlies

On October 9 and 13, 2019, Martínez was called up to the Argentina senior squad for friendly matches against Germany and Ecuador, though he remained an unused substitute for both games.

2019: Breakthrough and Trophies at Arsenal

During 2019, Martínez successfully broke into the Arsenal starting line-up, subsequently helping the team secure victories in the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield.

June 2020: First Premier League appearance and Arsenal breakthrough

On 20 June 2020, Emiliano Martínez replaced the injured Bernd Leno during a match against Brighton & Hove Albion, marking his first Premier League appearance since the 2016-17 season. Following this event in June 2020, he established himself as Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper for the remainder of the season, earning significant praise for his commanding performance.

September 2020: Transfer to Aston Villa

In September 2020, Martínez completed a transfer to the Premier League side Aston Villa for a fee of £20 million.

2020: Arsenal's Community Shield Victory and Transfer Speculation

On August 29, 2020, Emiliano Martínez started in goal for Arsenal during their Community Shield victory against Liverpool via a penalty shootout. Following this 2020 match, Martínez faced uncertainty regarding his future at Arsenal due to the return of Bernd Leno, leading him to demand a first-choice role or a permanent transfer, which resulted in his exclusion from the squad for the season opener against Fulham.

June 2021: International Debut and Copa América Success

Throughout June 2021, Emiliano Martínez reached significant milestones, including his international debut on June 3rd against Chile, and his performance in the 2021 Copa América, where he earned the Golden Glove award.

2021: Senior International Success and Copa América Victory

In 2021, Martínez earned his first senior cap for Argentina, won the 2021 Copa América, and was honored with the Golden Glove award.

January 2022: Contract Extension with Aston Villa

On 21 January 2022, Emiliano Martínez signed a three-year contract extension, committing his future to Aston Villa until the conclusion of the 2026–27 season.

2022: World Cup Victory and The Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award

During 2022, Martínez helped Argentina win the FIFA World Cup, was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament, and was awarded The Best FIFA Goalkeeper.

2022: FIFA World Cup Qualification Participation

In 2022, Martínez continued his role as a key goalkeeper, building upon his international experience gained during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches that began in June 2021.

April 2023: 100th Premier League Appearance and Clean Sheet Record

On 1 April 2023, Martínez achieved his 100th Premier League appearance for Aston Villa in a 2–0 win against Chelsea. During this match, he earned his 34th clean sheet, establishing a new club record for the most clean sheets by a goalkeeper in their first 100 appearances.

2023: Receipt of the Yashin Trophy

In 2023, Martínez was awarded the Yashin Trophy, marking the first of his two joint-record wins for this honor.

April 2024: Conference League Semi-final Qualification

On 18 April 2024, Martínez played a pivotal role in a victory over Lille by saving two penalties following a 3–3 aggregate draw, successfully guiding Aston Villa to the semi-finals of the Conference League.

August 2024: Contract Extension with Aston Villa

On 21 August 2024, Emiliano Martínez solidified his future at Aston Villa by signing a new long-term contract that keeps him at the club until 2029.

December 2024: Premier League Save of the Month Award

In December 2024, Martínez earned his first Premier League Save of the Month award for a remarkable goal-line stop against Nottingham Forest, where he swatted away a header from Nicolás Domínguez.

2024: Copa América Victory and Record-Breaking Awards

In 2024, Martínez won the Copa América, received his third Golden Glove award, and was recognized as The Best FIFA Goalkeeper and recipient of the Yashin Trophy for a second time.

November 2025: Removal of Vice-Captaincy

In November 2025, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery officially announced that Emiliano Martínez would no longer serve as the team's vice-captain, with the responsibility being transferred to Ezri Konsa. While specific reasons were not disclosed by the manager, the decision is widely speculated to be linked to Martínez's unsuccessful efforts to secure a transfer away from the club during the preceding summer transfer window.

2026: Scheduled Conclusion of Aston Villa Contract

The contract extension signed in January 2022 is set to keep Emiliano Martínez at Aston Villa through the end of the 2026–27 season, concluding in 2026.

2029: Conclusion of Aston Villa Contract

As of the agreement signed in August 2024, Emiliano Martínez is slated to remain under contract with Aston Villa through the year 2029.

21 September 2020: Aston Villa Debut

On 21 September 2020, Martínez played his first match for Aston Villa, securing a 1–0 home victory against Sheffield United and successfully saving a penalty kick taken by John Lundstram.

22 November 2014: Premier League Debut

Emiliano Martínez made his Premier League debut on 22 November 2014, appearing as a second-half substitute for the injured Wojciech Szczęsny during a match against Manchester United.

26 November 2014: Champions League Clean Sheet and UEFA Team of the Week

On 26 November 2014, Martínez kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, an effort that earned him a spot in the UEFA Team of the Week.

29 November 2014: First Premier League Start

On 29 November 2014, Martínez made his first official start in the Premier League, helping Arsenal achieve a 1–0 victory against West Bromwich Albion.