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CORENTIN MARTINS
Date of Birth: 11 July, 1969
Nationality: France (international)/Portugal
Period at Deportivo: 1996 - 1997/1998 (winter)
Transfer: 375 million pesetas (ca. €2,4 million) (1996, from Auxerre)
Clubs: Strasbourg (2000-2004), Girondins de Bordeaux (1999-2000), Strasbourg (1998-1999), Deportivo (1996-1998), Auxerre (1991-1996), Brest (1989-1991)
Sold: 750 million pesetas (ca. 4,8 million) (1997, to Strasbourg)
Height: 172 cm
Weight: 70 kg
Position: Attacking Midfielder (central)
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 After a disappointing 1995/1996 campaign (Deportivo finished ninth), it was clear that the Galicians needed a quality boost. Not only fundamental signings where done with Naybet and Songo’o that summer, because the arrival of technically gifted players like Rivaldo and MARTINS lifted the team up to third place in the next season.
The short midfielder, capable of playing at every position on that part of the pitch, started his professional career in his city of birth: Brest. In the season 1989/1990 he made his debut for them at the age of twenty, playing twenty-nine matches for them and producing one goal. The club had quickly found out that they had a big talent amongst their midst, and Martins would play another fifty-six matches for them. Unfortunately, the campaign 1991/1992 was played one division lower because the relegation of Brest in 1991.
But Martins was relieved during that campaign, as Auxerre signed him in December 1991 and brought him back to where he belonged: the highest French division. The player, twenty-two at the time, immediately produced three goals for Guy Roux’ men and conquered a starting position. The mid-nineties proved to be successful for Martins and Auxerre, as the club won the French cup in 1994 and two years later won ‘the double’. Martins was their inspirational leader during that campaign, and in 1993 made his debut for the French national team.
After 165 league matches for Auxerre, and none less than thirty-seven goals, Martins was ready for a bigger challenge. The player was present at the Euro 1996 tournament, but didn’t play a single minute because the competition of Zidane, Deschamps, Karembeu, Djorkaeff and Lamouchi. But already before the tournament had started, Martins was assured of football in the Primera División as Deportivo signed him for about €2,4 million. If Deportivo hadn’t snatched him, probable Real Madrid would had as Jorge Valdano even approached him personally. He also had done so when he was still a coach of Tenerife.
The season 1996/1997 he would deliver some phenomenal performances in La Coruña, and inspired Deportivo (together with Rivaldo) to higher levels. The club stayed unbeaten until 4 January, 1997 and after matchday thirty-two he had missed just two Liga matches. His debut on 31 August, 1996 couldn’t have been better as he produced a goal in Riazor against Real Madrid (1-1).
In the next three matches he added two others, and scored a total of thirteen goals that season. These included winners against Sevilla (0-1) and Valencia (1-0), two vital goals against Hércules Alicante (1-3), and important ones against Rayo Vallecano (1-2) and Racing de Santander (2-1). But Martins had to miss seven Liga matches in the final part of the Liga, because he suffered from little injuries. Deportivo noted his absence, because they lost four of these matches and produced just five goals in them.
 But French players and Deportivo didn’t exactly proved to be a success those years (Bonnissel, Madar), and Martins would follow their way during the season 1997/1998. The campaign started as usual, with Martins playing against Tenerife, Mallorca and Barcelona. He also started the first UEFA Cup encounter with Auxerre (1-2 loss) on 16 September, 1998, but this proved to be his final match for Deportivo.
Martins suffered muscle injuries those weeks, and Deportivo had to do weeks without him. The results of the team, now playing without Rivaldo and Martins, went from bad to worse as they team even dropped to position sixteen in the week. It led to comments of Atlético coach Antic that “there’s a lot of talking about Deportivo missing Rivaldo. But who they really need is an injured player: Martins. The results of Deportivo would have been better with him, because they miss his goals”.
In 1996 the player had signed a contract at the club running to 30 June, 2000. But at the start of 1998 it was all over because Martins was sold to Strasbourg. The chemistry between Martins and Deportivo might have disappeared, but Strasbourg had to pay a large transfer sum to acquire his services (about €4,8 million). At the age of twenty-eighth, Martins returned to France.
Strasbourg would become his club until now: 2004. Only during the season 1999/2000 didn’t he play for them, as he performed at Girondins de Bordeaux. But the other seasons he appeared in 167 of their league matches and scored and scored twenty-one goals in them, winning the French cup in 2001. His last match for France he played in 1997, and reached a total of fourteen caps and one goal.
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