Despite holding the number one shirt for many seasons at Aston Villa, Emi Martinez has chosen to change his shirt number to 23 for the 2024/25 campaign.
Traditionally, goalkeepers who are first choice at any club are given the number one jersey. Throughout history, this has been no different at Villa.
Martinez has been the most recent holder of the number one shirt after he was given the jersey after Tom Heaton’s departure
However, ahead of the new season, the Argentine has freely decided to give up the number in order to take the 23 shirt.
Below, Aston Villa News explains why Martinez has chosen to switch to number 23.
Read more: Every Aston Villa signing and departure this summer.
Emi Martinez is ‘superstitious’ about the number 23
Martinez has now been using the number 23 shirt for many years. On the international stage, the Argentine has consistently worn the jersey which was present in both his World Cup and Copa America victories.
The goalkeeper openly chose the number for his country as it is the date his son was born on.
Now, Martinez believes that switching to the shirt number could strike further fortune at Villa as they aim to end their major trophy drought.
He told Villa: “It’s been four seasons with the number one. I have 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 am really superstitious, to be fair, so changing to number 23, it’s a really special number.”
An Aston Villa major trophy is the only thing missing for Emi Martinez.
Since Martinez signed for Villa in 2020, his career has only catapulted. Not only is he the first-choice goalkeeper for Argentina, but he is also arguably the best in his position in the world.
Thanks to this success, he has won multiple trophies for his country and has helped establish a real golden era for the South American club.
Now, the only thing missing is a major trophy at Villa. If changing his shirt number helps the Birmingham outfit finally lift silverware at the end of the season, few of the Villa Park faithful will care.
