Daniel Martín
Encyclopedia
Daniel Martín Alexandre, commonly known as Dani (born 16 September 1981), is a Spanish
footballer who plays for CD Atlético Baleares
as a striker.
, Andalusia
, Dani started playing professionally with hometown's Real Betis
, and appeared for its B side
during three years, a spell which included six goals in 27 games in 1999–2000. On 4 November 2001, he made his first team - and La Liga
- debut, playing the second half of a 0–1 home loss to Real Zaragoza
, finishing the season with 17 games and five goals.
After having missed most of the 2002–03 season due to a serious knee
injury, occurred in April 2002 and relapsed in August, Dani was knocked unconscious during a league game against Deportivo de La Coruña
in November 2003, and was unable to remember a disallowed goal he had scored during the game. However, he continue to score important goals for Betis, with relatively little playing time, most notably the extra time
winner in the final of the 2005 Copa del Rey
against CA Osasuna
, adding the only goal in a 1–0 win against Chelsea
in the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League
group stage.
On 18 January 2007, Dani scored against Real Madrid
, eliminating the eventual league champions from domestic cup contention. His equalizing goal gave Betis a 1–1 draw, putting them through to the quarter-finals on the away goals rule
. He finished the league with only 14 appearances, not being able to find the net.
Under Betis contract until 2010, Dani would however join second division
outfit Cádiz CF
, also in Andalusia
, in a one-year loan deal including the possibility of definitive purchase at the end of the term. With his 10 goals in 34 league matches, Cádiz could not, however, avoid relegation.
Dani stayed in the division for the following season, being again loaned, this time to Alicante
side Elche CF
. His campaign was marred by injuries and dramatic loss of form, as he did not manage to find the net and only appeared in 1/3 of the matches.
Returning to Betis in July, Dani immediately underwent a knee
operation, only being made available in January 2010; however, he was one of the club's last offensive options and, late in the month, signed a one 1/2-year deal with second level's Recreativo de Huelva
.
On 6 February 2011, Dani scored the game's only goal as Recreativo defeated Betis at the Estadio Benito Villamarín.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for CD Atlético Baleares
CD Atlético Baleares
Club Deportivo Atlético Baleares is a Spanish football team based in Palma, Majorca, in the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. Founded on 27 May 1942, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 3.-History:...
as a striker.
Club career
Born in SevilleSeville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
, Dani started playing professionally with hometown's Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
, and appeared for its B side
Real Betis B
Real Betis B is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1963, it is the reserve team of Real Betis, and currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4, holding home games at Ciudad Deportiva, with a capacity for 4,000 spectators.Unlike the...
during three years, a spell which included six goals in 27 games in 1999–2000. On 4 November 2001, he made his first team - and La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
- debut, playing the second half of a 0–1 home loss to Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
, finishing the season with 17 games and five goals.
After having missed most of the 2002–03 season due to a serious knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injury, occurred in April 2002 and relapsed in August, Dani was knocked unconscious during a league game against Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
in November 2003, and was unable to remember a disallowed goal he had scored during the game. However, he continue to score important goals for Betis, with relatively little playing time, most notably the extra time
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
winner in the final of the 2005 Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
against CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
, adding the only goal in a 1–0 win against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
group stage.
On 18 January 2007, Dani scored against Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, eliminating the eventual league champions from domestic cup contention. His equalizing goal gave Betis a 1–1 draw, putting them through to the quarter-finals on the away goals rule
Away goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
. He finished the league with only 14 appearances, not being able to find the net.
Under Betis contract until 2010, Dani would however join second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
outfit Cádiz CF
Cádiz CF
Cádiz Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1910, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4, holding home games at Estadio Ramón de Carranza, with a 22,000-seat capacity.Salvadoran legend Mágico González, who...
, also in Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
, in a one-year loan deal including the possibility of definitive purchase at the end of the term. With his 10 goals in 34 league matches, Cádiz could not, however, avoid relegation.
Dani stayed in the division for the following season, being again loaned, this time to Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
side Elche CF
Elche CF
Elche Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Elche, Alicante, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, holding home matches at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, with a capacity of 38,750 seats.-Recent seasons:-Season to...
. His campaign was marred by injuries and dramatic loss of form, as he did not manage to find the net and only appeared in 1/3 of the matches.
Returning to Betis in July, Dani immediately underwent a knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
operation, only being made available in January 2010; however, he was one of the club's last offensive options and, late in the month, signed a one 1/2-year deal with second level's Recreativo de Huelva
Recreativo de Huelva
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 23 December 1889, it is the oldest football team in Spain, and currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Nuevo Colombino, which has a...
.
On 6 February 2011, Dani scored the game's only goal as Recreativo defeated Betis at the Estadio Benito Villamarín.