Martín Merquelanz Explained

Martín Merquelanz
Fullname:Martín Merquelanz Castellanos
Birth Date:12 June 1995
Birth Place:Irun, Spain
Height:1.76 m[1]
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Eibar
Clubnumber:18
Youthyears1:2009–2012
Youthclubs1:Antiguoko
Youthyears2:2012–2014
Youthclubs2:Real Sociedad
Years1:2014–2018
Clubs1:Real Sociedad B
Caps1:100
Goals1:17
Years2:2018–2024
Clubs2:Real Sociedad
Caps2:14
Goals2:0
Years3:2019–2020
Clubs3:Mirandés (loan)
Caps3:36
Goals3:15
Years4:2021–2022
Clubs4:Rayo Vallecano (loan)
Caps4:4
Goals4:0
Years5:2024–
Clubs5:Eibar
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Club-Update:4 December 2021

Martín Merquelanz Castellanos (born 12 June 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left winger for SD Eibar.

Club career

Born in Irun, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country (Spain), Merquelanz joined Real Sociedad's youth setup in 2012, from Antiguoko.[2] He was promoted to the reserves on 23 June 2014,[3] and made his senior debut on 31 August by coming on as a second-half substitute for Pablo Hervías in a 0–3 Segunda División B away loss against CD Tudelano.

Merquelanz scored his first senior goal on 20 September 2015, netting the second in a 5–0 away routing of CD Mensajero. Roughly one year later, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 home thrashing of Gernika Club, and finished the 2016–17 campaign with ten goals in 36 matches.

Merquelanz renewed his contract until 2019 on 17 May 2017,[4] but suffered a serious knee injury in December, which kept him out for the remainder of the campaign.[5] The following 12 January, he extended his contract until 2020.[6]

On 14 August 2018, Merquelanz was definitely promoted to the main squad in La Liga.[7] He made his debut in the category on 31 August, replacing Asier Illarramendi in a 1–2 away loss against SD Eibar, but being taken off three minutes later due to an injury.[8]

On 19 July 2019, after spending the campaign nursing his knee injury, Merquelanz joined Segunda División side CD Mirandés on loan for one year.[9] He scored his first professional goal on 24 August, netting the equalizer in a 1–2 home loss against Cádiz CF. Merquelanz was a regular starter for the Castilian-Leonese side, scoring a career-best 15 goals and helping the club avoid relegation and reach the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.

Upon returning to Real Sociedad, Merquelanz agreed to a contract extension with the club until 2025 on 8 August 2020.[10] Roughly one year later, after featuring sparingly, he was loaned to fellow top tier side Rayo Vallecano for the season.[11]

In September 2021, Merquelanz suffered another knee injury during a match against Levante UD,[12] being sidelined for the remainder of the campaign. He suffered a setback from his injury in May 2022, which led him to miss the entire 2022–23 season,[13] and underwent a new surgery in June 2023.[14]

Merquelanz returned to trainings in December 2023,[15] but still failed to feature a single minute during the 2023–24 season after being unregistered. He terminated his contract with the Txuri-urdin on 23 July 2024,[16] and agreed to a one-year deal with SD Eibar in the second division the following day, subject to a trial period.[17]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Sociedad B2014–15Segunda División B170170
2015–16292292
2016–1736103610
2017–18185185
Total10017000010017
Real Sociedad2018–19La Liga100010
2020–211302020170
Total1402020180
Mirandés (loan)2019–20Segunda División3615724317
Rayo Vallecano (loan)2021–22La Liga200020
Career total15232922016334

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Martín Merquelanz . 2 August 2022 . Real Sociedad.
  2. Web site: Una mirada a los comienzos del 'fideo' Martin Merquelanz con Iñigo Santin. A look at the beginnings of the 'noodle' Martín Merquelanz with Iñigo Santin. El Desmarque. es. 12 February 2020. 8 August 2020.
  3. Web site: Diez juveniles pasarán al Sanse. https://web.archive.org/web/20160601015839/http://www.realsociedad.com//document/view/spa/177/175483/diez-juveniles-pasaran-al-sanse-. Ten youths will move to Sanse. Real Sociedad. es. 23 June 2014. 1 June 2016. 14 August 2018.
  4. Web site: Hasta 2019. Until 2019. Real Sociedad. es. 17 May 2017. 14 August 2018.
  5. Web site: Merquelanz, adiós a la temporada. Merquelanz, goodbye for the season. Mundo Deportivo. es. 11 December 2017. 14 August 2018.
  6. Web site: Hasta 2020. Until 2020. Real Sociedad. es. 12 January 2018. 14 August 2018.
  7. Web site: Sube al primer equipo. Promoted to the first team. Real Sociedad. es. 14 August 2018. 14 August 2018.
  8. Web site: Ipurua continua inexpugnable. Ipurua remains impregnable. Diario AS. es. 1 September 2018. 1 September 2018.
  9. Web site: Acuerdo para su cesión al Mirandés. Agreement for their loan to Mirandés. Real Sociedad. es. 19 July 2019. 22 July 2019.
  10. Web site: "En casa soy muy feliz". I am very happy at home. Real Sociedad. es. 8 August 2020. 8 August 2020.
  11. Web site: Acuerdo para su cesión al Rayo Vallecano. Agreement for his loan to Rayo Vallecano. Real Sociedad. es. 10 August 2021. 10 August 2021.
  12. Web site: Merquelanz, operado de la rodilla. Merquelanz, operated of his knee. Diario AS. es. 29 September 2021. 12 August 2023.
  13. Web site: El calvario de un canterano de la Real Sociedad: posible adiós a la próxima temporada al completo. The calvary of a Real Sociedad youth graduate: possible farewell to the entirety of the next season. El Desmarque. es. 27 May 2022. 12 August 2023.
  14. Web site: El cumpleaños de la esperanza de Merquelanz. The hopeful birthday of Merquelanz. Diario AS. es. 12 June 2023. 12 August 2023.
  15. Web site: Martín Merquelanz vuelve a entrenar con el grupo ¡más de dos años después!. Martín Merquelanz returns to training with the group more than two years later!. Marca. es. 7 December 2023. 24 July 2024.
  16. Web site: Acuerdo para finalizar la relación contractual. Agreement to end the contractual relationship. Real Sociedad. es. 23 July 2024. 24 July 2024.
  17. Web site: Merquelanz se compromete por una temporada con el Eibar, con un periodo previo de prueba. Merquelanz signs for one season with Eibar, with a previous trial period. SD Eibar. es. 24 July 2024. 24 July 2024.