EMI MARTINEZ is no longer Aston Villa’s No 1.
But the decision has been fully of the goalkeeper’s own making.
Martinez joined Villa from Arsenal in 2020 for £20m, and has made 145 league appearances for the Villans.
He has since excelled both at club level and for Argentina at international level.
Martinez lifted the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, playing in every minute and winning the Golden Glove.
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Emi Martinez has said he changed his shirt number because 23 holds more resonance to him, both on the pitch and off it.
Martinez wore the No 23 shirt as Argentina’s goalkeeper when they won the World Cup.
And 23 was also the day his son, Santi, was born.
Martinez said: “Well, it’s been, I think, four seasons with the number one.
“I won all the trophies with the national team with the number 23. [It’s] the day my boy was born.
“I want to bring silverware to the fans, to Villa. I’m really superstitious to be fair, so changing to 23, it’s a really special number.”
The last player to wear the 23 shirt for Aston Villa was Philippe Coutinho.
After a loan spell from Barcelona, Coutinho made his move permanent for £17m in May 2022.
However after falling down the pecking order under Unai Emery, Coutinho agreed a drastic pay-cut to be able to leave Villa Park, albeit on loan.
He now plays on loan back in Brazil for Vasco da Gama after a spell in Qatar for Al-Duhail.
