Moving to Bayern Munich was probably the best thing possible for Javi Martinez. Not just getting recognition as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, but getting a chance to add a lot of silverware to his cabinet at home and honors to his CV, which now includes a domestic championship and cup, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the European Super Cup and also international titles with Spain – the Euro and the FIFA World Cup.
Martinez didn’t really play a big part in Spain winning the titles in 2010 and 2012, but he was still given a medal. You can also add his U-21 Euro championship from 2011, a competition Spain have been dominating for the last few years, also winning it two years later, although Martinez was no longer a part of it.
A frustrating season so far for the Spaniard. At first many thought Guardiola wasn’t going to play him much, being more of a destroyer in the middle of the park than an elegant technician, but it’s mostly been an injury that has gotten in his way of performing like last season. He might be moved to centre back, but right now he’s simply picking up titles, coming on for Toni Kroos in the 60th minute of the Club World Cup final against Raja Casablanca with Bayern winning 2-0.
He was a huge part of Bayern having their perfect season – league title, German Cup, Champions League. Martinez is missing the German Supercup, not playing this season when Bayern lost to Dortmund or last year, when Bayern beat Dortmund. He’s also only full of runner-up from his time with Bilbao – in the Spanish Cup, in the Europa League, in the Spanish Supercoppa. He scored the goal that sent the match into a penalty shootout (which Bayern won) with a 120th minute goal against Chelsea in the European Super Cup.