José Luis Martí


José Luis Martí Soler is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a central midfielder, and a manager.
Known for his excellent tactical awareness, he amassed La Liga totals of 336 matches and eight goals over 13 seasons, representing in the competition Mallorca, Tenerife and Sevilla. He won five major titles with the latter club, including two UEFA Cups.
Martí started working as a manager in 2015, going on to spend three seasons in Segunda División with Tenerife.

Playing career

Early years / Tenerife

Martí was born in Palma, Majorca. Having starting playing professionally with hometown's RCD Mallorca, making his first-team debut at the age of already 25 in the 1999–2000 season, he switched the following campaign to the Canary Islands, joining CD Tenerife in the second division and being instrumental in the team's promotion to La Liga.

Sevilla

After Tenerife's top level relegation, Martí played one more season with the club, then returned to the top flight as he joined Sevilla FC in July 2003, going on to become a regular in the Andalusia side's exploits in the subsequent years – for instance, as they won back-to-back UEFA Cups, he appeared in 24 matches combined scoring two goals, both through penalties.
In May 2007, Martí extended his contract with Sevilla until 2010. However, having lost his importance in 2007–08, he was loaned to second level team Real Sociedad in January 2008, but the Basques ultimately failed to return to the top level.

Mallorca

33-year-old Martí returned to Mallorca in July 2008, for about €500.000, being an undisputed starter in the first year upon his return and the following, when the Balearic Islands side were edged in the last matchday for the final berth for the UEFA Champions League, precisely by former club Sevilla. Again from the penalty spot, he netted his only goal of the season at Sporting de Gijón on 4 October 2009.
Martín renewed his link on 29 June 2011, until the following year. Still first-choice, the captain saw the team be relegated to the second tier in 2013, the first time in 16 years.
One month after his 40th birthday, Martí announced he would retire from football at the end of the 2014–15 campaign, with Mallorca still in the second division.

Coaching career

On 4 November 2015, Martí was appointed manager of Tenerife, replacing fired Raül Agné. He was himself relieved of his duties on 4 February 2018 after four league games without a win, totalling 39 wins, 40 draws and 29 defeats during his spell.
On 8 April 2019, after more than a year without a club, Martí signed for Deportivo de La Coruña in place of Natxo González who had been fired a day earlier. In late June, after leading the team to the sixth position in the regular season and falling short in the promotion play-offs, he left.
On 28 October 2019, Martí replaced the dismissed Juan Carlos Unzué at the helm of Girona FC also in the second division. He was shown the door the following 30 June, with the side in fifth and therefore in the playoffs.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Sevilla