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SERGIO DANIEL MARTÍNEZ ALZURI ‘MANTECA MARTÍNEZ’
Date of Birth: 15 February, 1969
Nationality: Uruguay (international)
Period at Deportivo: 1997 (December) - 2000
Transfer: $3,3 million (1997, Boca Juniors)
Clubs: Nacional de Montevideo (2000-2001), Deportivo (1997-2000), Boca Juniors (1992-1997), Peñarol (1990-1992), Defensor Sporting (1985-1990), Vesubio Centella
Sold: ? (2000, to Nacional de Montevideo)
Height: 172 cm
Weight: 66 kg
Position: Attacker (central)
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 The signing of ‘MANTÉCA’ MARTÍNEZ, together with his compatriot ‘Loco’ Abreu, during the season 1997/1998 have become symbols of the stressful season Deportivo played back then and the intentions of the club to turn it around. Both players were bought for a bag full of money but none of them succeeded at the club. In fact, the signing of ‘Manteca’ Martínez has been considered one of the worst of the club since its promotion in 1991.
But speedy Martínez, nicknamed ‘Manteca’ because he was considered as soft as butter, had an impressive curriculum vitae when he was presented by Lendoiro during the winter months of 1997/1998. He wasn’t considered a very technical striker but did what he was good at: scoring goals. Because of it he became legendary at big Argentinean club Boca Juniors.
‘Manteca’ Martínez started his career in Uruguay at Defensor Sporting where he made his debut in the highest division aged sixteen. In 1987 he was present when his team won the competition and in 1990 his performances earned him a transfer to bigger club Peñarol. In his two years at the club he made his debut for the national team and continued his impressive goalscoring record. This attracted attention of several big Argentinean clubs, among which San Lorenzo, and in 1992 earned him a transfer to Boca Juniors.
In Argentina he simply continued his production and scored seventy-nine goals for them. He immediately won the Apertura 1992 title with his new club and scored a total of twenty-four in the Clausura and Apertura of 1993. This last tournament made him topscorer of Argentina, something he would repeat during the Clausura of 1997. After fifteen goals in fifteen matches his transfer to Deportivo became a reality.
Besides his impressive records in competition football he became an important figure in the national team despite the presence of Fonseca and Otero. He participated during three tournaments of the Copa América (in 1991, 1995 and 1997) and won it in 1995 when it was played in his own country. He also participated during the qualification matches for the World Cup 1998 but Uruguay were eliminated.
Because Deportivo lacked what ‘Manteca’ Martínez was good at, scoring goals, it promised to become a good deal and the striker signed a contract running until 30 June, 2001. He had made such an impression in Argentina that Boca Juniors wanted a clause stating that during the next five years he would not be sold to another Argentinean club. This had much to do with the interest River Plate had been showing in signing him.
On 4 January, 1998 he made his Liga debut during the home match against Sporting de Gijón. With the score 0-1, and playing since the second minute with then players after the sending-off of Songo’o, he was brought as a partner of Abreu upfront and replaced Djalminha. Within minutes Naybet scored the equalizer after a play set up by the striker. And with five minutes remaining Abreu scored the winner. All in all a successful debut for ‘Manteca’ Martínez.
A similar scenario appeared when one week later he came on with the score in Riazor being 0-0 against Tenerife. Twelve minutes were left when ‘Manteca’ Martínez entered and Djalminha scored the winner near injury-time. But coach Corral gave preference to Bassir and Abreu upfront for the remaining months while youngsters Carlos, David, Deus and Maikel also were given opportunities. Besides, ‘Manteca’ Martínez suffered from several small injuries.
Despite what he had cost he would play just one more Liga match: on 14 February, 1998 at Real Valladolid (1-0). He even started it, but this had much to do with the flu causing half of the squad being out for this encounter. Deportivo even asked the Spanish FA to postpone the match, but this didn’t happen. And that’s how ‘Manteca’ Martínez would start his only Liga match next to youngsters like Aira, Pinillos, David and Padín. He did start three Copa matches but ended all of them without having scored a single goal. Besides, he suffered a knee injury, underwent two surgeries and was sidelined for almost a year.
In the summer of 1998 new coach Javier Irureta took over from Corral and the duo Pauleta/’Turu’ Flores was signed. Together with the presence of Bassir and Manjarín it was time for Irureta to make tough decisions and one of them was to exclude ‘Manteca’ Martínez from the squad. The player, aged twenty-nine, commented that “the supporters haven’t seen the real Martínez here. People can’t tell whether I am a good or bad player because I simply wasn’t offered the opportunities to demonstrate it”.
 But ‘Manteca’ Martínez admitted he now was in “a difficult situation because I don’t have received any offers yet. I think I have at least two good years of football to give although it’s a pity I couldn’t demonstrate it here. I feel sorry for the people because they have always treated me very well”. ‘Manteca’ Martínez still had a contract though for three more years and had a big argument with the Deportivo directors about his recovery. He spent more than a year without playing while the club negotiated the transfer of Walter Pandiani (Peñarol) as his replacement. The Galicians paid $2 million for his services + the transfer of ‘Manteca’ Martínez. But in the end Peñarol didn’t want him because of his injury history and his agent, Francisco Casal, saw of chance of him playing in Uruguay at Nacional de Montevideo.
‘Manteca’ Martínez, aged thirty-one, arrived in July 2000, in time to play the Apertura 2000 tournament. He and Alejandro Lembo (who signed at Betis Sevilla in 2003), were considered their major reinforcements and they became colleagues of Gustavo Munúa at the club. Martinéz’ performances were spectacular that year as he scored fourteen goals in the Apertura and Clausura and was considered the best player of the month September.
During the final of the Uruguayan league it was ‘Manteca’ Martínez who scored two goals, both from the spot, against Peñarol in both matches. The score on aggregate was 2-1 for Nacional and with it they became the last champions of the twentieth century in Uruguay. It was sweet revenge for ‘Manteca’ Martínez; after all he was supposed to become the new striker of Peñarol but they rejected him.
The end to his career was near though as in 2001 the striker was relegated to the bench at Nacional. This had much to do with the arrival of Sebastián ‘Loco’ Abreu who came on a loan deal from Deportivo. Both men had arrived in La Coruña in December 1997 and now, four year later, became rivals again. Coach Hugo de León gave preference to Abreu and not much later ‘Manteca’ Martínez quit football. It seems he now is trying to make a career in watersports.
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