Manel Martínez

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Manel Martínez

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = José Manuel Martínez Bel

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|3|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Cabrera de Mar, Spain

| height = 1.85 m

| position = Forward

| currentclub = San Fernando

| clubnumber = 17

| youthyears1 = 2000–2004 | youthclubs1 = La Salle Premià

| youthyears2 = 2004–2010 | youthclubs2 = Damm

| youthyears3 = 2010–2011 | youthclubs3 = Cornellà

| collegeyears1 = 2012–2014 | college1 = VCU Rams | collegecaps1 = 58 | collegegoals1 = 8

| years1 = 2011 | clubs1 = Cornellà | caps1 = 7 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2011–2012 | clubs2 = Masnou | caps2 = 27 | goals2 = 4

| years3 = 2012 | clubs3 = Europa | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2013 | clubs4 = RVA | caps4 = 3 | goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2015–2016 | clubs5 = Sabadell B | caps5 = 31 | goals5 = 17

| years6 = 2016 | clubs6 = Sabadell | caps6 = 18 | goals6 = 4

| years7 = 2016–2018 | clubs7 = Peralada | caps7 = 13 | goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2016–2017 | clubs8 = → Llagostera (loan) | caps8 = 36 | goals8 = 14

| years9 = 2017–2018 | clubs9 = → Lorca (loan) | caps9 = 9 | goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2018–2019 | clubs10 = Murcia | caps10 = 34 | goals10 = 6

| years11 = 2019–2020 | clubs11 = Marbella | caps11 = 31 | goals11 = 10

| years12 = 2020–2022 | clubs12 = Atlético Baleares | caps12 = 50 | goals12 = 11

| years13 = 2022 | clubs13 = Surkhon Termez | caps13 = 5 | goals13 = 0

| years14 = 2023 | clubs14 = Racing Ferrol | caps14 = 17 | goals14 = 1

| years15 = 2023–2024 | clubs15 = Sabadell | caps15 = 26 | goals15 = 4

| years16 = 2024– | clubs16 = San Fernando | caps16 = 5 | goals16 = 3

| club-update = 6 October 2024

| nationalteam-update =

}}

José Manuel "Manel" Martínez Bel (born 25 March 1992) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a forward for San Fernando.

Club career

Born in Cabrera de Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia, Manel finished his formation with UE Cornellà. He made his senior debut for the club in 2011, and subsequently moved to CD Masnou.

In 2012, after a short period at CE Europa,{{cite web|url=http://www.ceeuropa.cat/cerca-standard-joomla/15-primer-equip/noticies/2866-blank-29287719|title=Édgar i Manel, primeres altes del primer equip|trans-title=Édgar and Manel, first signings of the first team|publisher=CE Europa|language=ca|date=2 June 2012|accessdate=25 July 2016}} Manel moved abroad for the first time in his career, joining Virginia Commonwealth University's team VCU Rams while studying. On 17 June 2013, he signed for National Premier Soccer League club RVA FC, being crowned champions with the side.{{cite web|url=http://www.rvafootballclub.com/Press-Release-6-18-13.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327234146/http://www.rvafootballclub.com/Press-Release-6-18-13.html|title=International addition|publisher=RVA FC|date=17 June 2013|archivedate=27 March 2014|accessdate=25 July 2016}}

In January 2015 Manel returned to his homeland, signing for CE Sabadell FC B still in the fourth division. He renewed his contract until 2017 on 16 June,{{cite web|url=http://www.cesabadell.cat/es/noticia/manel-martinez-y-cesc-clotet-renuevan-con-el-ce-sabadell|title=Manel Martínez y Cesc Clotet renuevan con el CE Sabadell|trans-title=Manel Martínez and Cesc Clotet renew with CE Sabadell|publisher=CE Sabadell|language=es|date=16 June 2015|accessdate=25 July 2016}} and after scoring 13 goals in only 18 matches, was promoted to the main squad on 31 December;{{cite web|url=http://www.radiosabadell.fm/Noticies/Manel-Martinez-puja-al-primer-equip-del-Sabadell-i-es-converteix-en-el-primer-fitxatge-del-mercat-d-hivern|title=Manel Martínez puja al primer equip del Sabadell i es converteix en el primer 'fitxatge' del mercat d'hivern|trans-title=Manel Martínez ascends to the first team of Sabadell and becomes the first 'signing' of the winter market|publisher=Ràdio Sabadell|language=ca|date=31 December 2015|accessdate=25 July 2016}} he also extended his contract for a further season.{{cite web|url=http://www.cesabadell.cat/es/noticia/renovacio-de-manel|title=Manel, renovado|trans-title=Manel, renewed|publisher=CE Sabadell|language=es|accessdate=25 July 2016}}

On 22 July 2016 Manel joined Segunda División side Girona FC,{{cite web|url=http://www.gironafc.cat/noticia/manel-un-nou-davanter-per-al-girona|title=Manel, un nou davanter per al Girona|trans-title=Manel, a new forward to Girona|publisher=Girona FC|language=ca|date=22 July 2016|accessdate=25 July 2016}} but was loaned to UE Llagostera in the third tier on 18 August, for one year.{{cite web|url=http://www.gironafc.cat/es/noticia/manel-cedido-a-la-ue-llagostera|title=Manel, cedido a la UE Llagostera|trans-title=Manel, loaned to Llagostera|publisher=Girona FC|language=es|date=18 August 2016|accessdate=4 June 2017}} After scoring 14 goals for the latter he joined Lorca FC on loan the following 15 May,{{cite web|url=http://lorcafc.com/manel-martinez-refuerza-al-lorca-fc/|title=Manel Martínez refuerza al Lorca FC|trans-title=Manel Martínez bolsters Lorca FC|publisher=Lorca FC|language=es|date=15 May 2017|accessdate=4 June 2017}} and helped the club in the play-offs as it achieved promotion to the second division for the first time ever.

Manel made his professional debut on 18 August 2017, starting in a 2–0 home win against Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa.{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/futbol/segunda-division/2017/08/18/59972ba046163f5d578b45a2.html|title=El Lorca aterriza a lo grande en Segunda|trans-title=Lorca land through the big door in Segunda|publisher=Marca|language=es|date=18 August 2017|accessdate=18 August 2017}} The following 11 January he cut ties with the club,{{cite web|url=http://lorcafc.com/2018/01/11/manel-martinez-se-desvincula-del-lorca-futbol-club/|title=Manel Martínez se desvincula del Lorca Fútbol Club|trans-title=Manel Martínez leaves Lorca Fútbol Clube|publisher=Lorca FC|language=es|date=11 January 2018}} returning to Girona and being immediately assigned to the reserves in the third division.{{cite web|url=http://www.diaridegirona.cat/esports/2018/01/12/davanter-manel-acabara-temporada-peralada/889632.html|title=El davanter Manel acabarà la temporada amb el Peralada|trans-title=The forward Manel will end the season at Peralada|publisher=Diari de Girona|language=ca|date=12 January 2018|access-date=12 January 2018}}

On 17 July 2018, Manel signed for Real Murcia still in the third tier.{{cite web|url=http://www.realmurcia.es/noticia/manel-martinez-polvora-para-la-delantera-del-real-murcia|title=Manel Martínez, pólvora para la delantera del Real Murcia|trans-title=Manel Martínez, powder to the attack of Real Murcia|publisher=Real Murcia|language=es|date=17 July 2018|access-date=3 September 2018}} In the following season, Manel joined Marbella FC.[http://www.marbelladirecto.com/noticia/el-marbella-fc-incorpora-al-delantero-manel-martinez/13603#.XZSrauczbLY El Marbella FC incorpora al delantero Manel Martínez], marbelladirecto.com, 25 June 2019

Personal life

Manel is the son of former FC Barcelona defender Manolo.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiosabadell.fm/Noticies/Manolo-Martinez-El-meu-fill-Manel-encara-te-un-ampli-marge-de-millora|title=Manolo Martínez: "El meu fill Manel encara té un ampli marge de millora"|trans-title=Manolo Martínez: "My son Manel still has a large room for improvement"|publisher=Ràdio Sabadell|language=ca|date=24 February 2016|accessdate=25 July 2016}}