“He's the world’s No.1 and our No.23 - it’s Emi Martinez,” is the regular call from the stadium announcer ahead of Aston Villa home games.
The Argentine then turns to salute the adoring masses in the Holte End before fixing his sights on what lies before him. The fact he was the first World Cup winner on the club’s books is not lost on anyone at Villa Park.
Martinez’s status was already high before he jetted off to the Middle East to claim glory in Qatar three years ago. Since then, however, it has sky-rocketed.
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Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in action for Aston Villa
Twice given the Yashin award and also voted FIFA’s best men’s goalkeeper, Martinez is at the absolute pinnacle of his career. It is difficult not to understand why.
Already comfortably the best No.1 seen at Aston Villa in the past decade, the 32-year-old's profile, stature and confidence have reached another level.
During that time, it has been a position that a string of managers have struggled with. A quick look through the list, starting from the 2015 campaign, shows the regularity with which they changed.
Although the Villans have also swapped out the manager’s position seven times during that period, until Dean Smith paid Arsenal £20million for the relatively untried South American, none of them settled.
In 2015, Brad Guzan was in possession of the shirt. He made way for Mark Bunn. Pierluigi Gollini played the following season under Steve Bruce - who then plumped for Sam Johnstone to take over.
Next through the door was Orjan Nyland - whose most famous contribution was dropping the ball over the line during a clash against Sheffield United during COVID that goal-line technology somehow failed to spot.
Finally, just before Smith decided to end the conversation once and for all and spend big to secure himself an Argentinian comfort blanket, Tom Heaton and Jed Steer were between the sticks.
It can be argued that not one of those custodians has gone on to bigger and better things. Yes, Gollini played for Fiorentina and Napoli - but not for long.
Johnstone has an England cap to his name and has enjoyed a very decent career, but none of the clubs he has played for are, generically, at Aston Villa’s level. Tom Heaton ended up at Manchester United. But never plays.
For five years, Martinez has stood unchallenged. And, ask any Villans fan whether it makes a difference - and they will surely point to last year’s Europa Conference League semi-final against Olympiakos - and tell you that it does.
Three yellow cards for the club’s regular shot-stopper, with the latest picked up against Lille in the quarter-final, meant that Robin Olsen was drafted in.
There was a reason why the Swede never mounted a worthwhile challenge for the shirt, and it was on show against the Piraeus-based side. Aston Villa lost the first leg 4-2 - a deficit that simply proved too much to overcome with a squad that had been stretched to its limits by injury and fatigue.
While Olsen didn’t make any mistakes, per se, he also didn’t make many saves, either. When Martinez’s contribution during the second leg at Lille are taken into consideration, the difference was clear to every fan.
He was building upon the confidence gleaned from his antics during the World Cup final penalty shoot-out victory over France. They endeared him to his nation, established him as a bona fide master of the dark arts of psychology - and marked him down as an easy target for opposition supporters - be that at club or international level.
Not that he makes it easy on himself. At times, it’s almost as if he seeks controversy. Wearing a baseball cap with the French cockerel, covered in pictures of the trophies Argentina had won ahead of the Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain was hardly the action of a sky and withdrawn individual.
But it’s on the pitch where it matters. It is the confidence that he inspires in those around him as much as any attention he draws to himself that has been the key to his success under Smith, Steven Gerrard and now Emery.
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Emiliano Martinez after being sent off for Aston Villa against Manchester United
However, in the past few weeks, cracks have started to appear. In several big games, Martinez’s performances have come under the microscope.
The opening goal in the return leg against PSG - palming out the ball after a moment’s hesitation with defender Pau Torres, which led to Luis Enrique’s men stretching their lead still further - was the first one.
There were grumbles in the FA Cup semi-final when he didn’t lay a glove on Ismaila Sarr’s effort from distance as Crystal Palace grabbed an all-important second in their 3-0 win.
And there was the horror-show at Old Trafford on the final day of the Premier League campaign when the goalkeeper was deservedly red-carded for his body-check on Rasmus Hojlund after Matty Cash’s backpass was seized upon, which left Aston Villa with a proverbial mountain to climb.
None of that should detract, however, from what a body-blow the club would suffer should he move on. Martinez’s tears following the final home game against Tottenham Hotspur have given credence to rumours that he could be sacrificed on the altar of profit and sustainability rules.
Bookmakers immediately swooped on the news, publishing odds of his next destination, with Atletico Madrid favourites. Manchester United were mentioned. As was a move to Saudi Arabia - a switch, given the finances that would come into play for a keeper feted as ‘the world’s best’, as highly likely.
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Martinez’s salary - he is among the highest-paid at Villa Park on £7.5million-a-year - would be doubled with a switch to the oil-rich state. And it wouldn’t be subject to the same tax regime, either.
All of these acts add to the attractiveness of any move. But, make no mistake, any replacement is a risk. And no alternative would carry the same authority, calmness or presence that Martinez brings.
He may have erred in a few matches this season, but his contribution to Aston Villa’s success has been enormous. The club struggled for years to find a perfect fit.
It now looks like they have one. And it would be remiss if anyone connected with the Villans simply shrugged their shoulders at the news that Martinez - who has been described as 'world-class' by journalist Dan Bardell - is moving. He is a major part of the success story - and, without question, Aston Villa would be weaker for his exit.
All statistics courtesy of Sofascore - correct as of 29/05/2025
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