FRAN MARTÍNEZ: “I’VE HAD OFFERS FROM FIRST-DIVISION CLUBS, BUT I CHOSE ESTEPONA”

The Rojillo goalkeeper discusses his arrival at the club, Manolo Sánchez's vision, the atmosphere at Muñoz Pérez, and the team's goals for this season on Deportes COPE Marbella

CD Estepona has started the 2026/27 season on a positive note. The scoreless draw against Xerez CD earned them a point and, above all, left the impression that Manolo Sánchez’s team is ready to compete right from the start.

One of the standout players in that season opener was Fran Martínez. The Rojillo goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in his first official match with CD Estepona and was a featured guest this week on Deportes COPE Marbella, where he joined Diego Partida to reflect on his first few months at the club and discuss his expectations for the new season.

During the interview, Fran Martínez made one of the most telling statements about his arrival in Estepona: he had offers to continue in the First Federation, but decided to commit to the Rojillo project.

“I’ve had offers from the Primera Federación as well, to be honest—let’s be real—but I know what Estepona is aiming to do. They spoke very highly of the coach and how things were being run here, and honestly, I didn’t hesitate for long.”

The goalkeeper, who arrived from Juventud de Torremolinos, explained that he had initially planned to stay with the Málaga-based team, but a change in the club’s sports direction and management led him to look for a new destination.

That’s when CD Estepona came along.

“I think it’s a great place to be, to grow with the club, and it’s an ambitious place.”

“Very few First Division teams have the resources available here”

Fran Martínez also wanted to highlight the internal operations he has encountered since his arrival at the Estepona team.

The goalkeeper particularly emphasized the club’s professionalism and stated that the resources available here are even greater than those he has encountered at teams in higher divisions.

“I can assure you that very few teams in the First Federation—not the Second Federation, but the First Federation—have the resources and operate with the same level of professionalism as we do here.”

A structure that, in his opinion, must serve as the foundation for future on-field success.

“That has to come first, and then the results on the field will surely follow.”

This assessment reflects CD Estepona’s commitment to continuing to grow not only on the field but also in the overall operation of the club.

A “very good starting point” against Xerez CD

The season’s first match ended in a 0-0 draw against Xerez CD, though Fran Martínez believes the result could have been different.

The goalkeeper highlighted the team’s collective performance and the scoring chances created during the match.

“We feel great; we were pretty comfortable against an opponent with very good players—they’re also a very good team—so I think this is a very good starting point.”

Fran acknowledged that it was a shame not to have been able to capitalize on any of the chances created, but he expressed pride in what he saw on the field.

“With all the chances we created, we weren’t able to convert any, but that’s soccer, and I walked off the field very proud of what I saw.”

The goalkeeper is also certain that, if the team maintains that ability to create chances, the goals will eventually come.

“The important thing is to create chances, and the team creates them very easily.”

The Fans: One of the Biggest Surprises for Fran Martínez

Another aspect that has particularly caught the new Rojillo goalkeeper’s attention is the atmosphere he encountered at the Francisco Muñoz Pérez stadium.

Fran was already familiar with the stadium as a visiting player, but he acknowledges that the feeling during his debut with CD Estepona was completely different.

“I remember coming here as a visitor; there were people there, but it wasn’t the same as what I felt the other day.”

The goalkeeper especially highlighted the energy he received from the stands.

“I really liked having that energy and having the fans right there cheering me on.”

It’s a connection the player considers important for a team aiming to compete for ambitious goals this season.

The Goal: To Be a Team, Not Just a Roster

Fran Martínez also wanted to highlight the difference between having a good roster and getting all its members to function as a true team.

“A roster, not a team.”

He elaborated on this idea during the interview, explaining that the locker room’s goal isn’t just to bring together quality players, but to ensure everyone is connected and competes as a unified unit.

“The intention isn’t to be a roster full of big names, but to be a real team.”

The goalkeeper believes that the main goal is to transform individual talent into a competitive unit.

“We’re working hard to build a great team, and our intention is not to be just a roster, but to be a real team.”

And, even though the group has only been working together for a few weeks, Fran says the adjustment has been particularly quick.

“I’m surprised at how quickly we’ve achieved this because it’s not normal to pull it off in just one preseason.”

The goalkeeper attributes part of that process to the work done by Manolo Sánchez and his coaching staff, as well as the smooth integration between the players returning from last season and the new signings.

A Roster with Many Options

During the interview, there was also time to discuss the attacking players and the competition within the roster.

Fran Martínez believes that this very variety could become one of the team’s greatest strengths.

“We have different forwards who can contribute different things at different moments in matches and throughout the season.”

The goalkeeper also highlighted the forwards’ defensive work and their involvement off the ball.

“They’re very hardworking players; they don’t zone out when they don’t have the ball.”

Among the names mentioned during the conversation was Pablo Aguilar, about whom Fran wanted to send a reassuring message after speaking with him.

“He’s doing very well. So he’s going to have his moments this season.”

He also spoke about the latest signings, Bakary Sow and Pablo Arriaza, who joined the team after the season had already begun and are still adapting to Manolo Sánchez’s style of play.

A Goalkeeper Who Wants to Lead from the Back

Fran Martínez also explained how he views his position and what he hopes to bring to CD Estepona this season.

For the goalkeeper, his primary responsibility is clear:

“The first thing a goalkeeper has to do is make saves—and try to make as many as possible.”

But there’s another aspect he considers essential: communication.

“Above all, I focus on making saves, being brave, and communicating a lot.”

The goalkeeper understands that this communication becomes even more important on a team that takes risks and looks to attack.

“I always say that we make more saves by talking than by acting.”

This is a trait he aims to turn into one of his main tools to help the defensive line throughout the season.

Fran Martínez’s Challenge: Winning and Regaining the Desire to Win

When asked about his individual goals, the goalkeeper chose to prioritize the team over any personal statistics.

“On an individual level, the truth is that I don’t even think about those things.”

His goal is directly tied to the team’s performance:

“As a team, to help the team finish as high as possible.”

And he summed up his mindset for this season very clearly:

“Win one weekend, then come to the next weekend and want to win—and want to win.”

Fran acknowledges that Manolo Sánchez’s approach is unique, but he assures us that he has adapted well to the coach’s philosophy.

“This year, everyone who comes to the stadium is going to see real soccer”

The interview ended with a direct message to CD Estepona’s fans.

With more than 1,500 season ticket holders and a growing turnout in the stands at Muñoz Pérez, Fran Martínez wanted to encourage fans to continue supporting the team.

The goalkeeper spoke from his own experience as a soccer fan and explained what he expects to find when someone goes to a stadium.

“If I pay, if I take my daughter to a soccer game, I want to have fun.”

And he believes that’s precisely what CD Estepona is offering:

“What the team delivers is fun for the fans—real soccer, pressing the opponent, pushing forward.”

The goalkeeper knows that no one can guarantee what will happen at the end of the season, but he is clear about the kind of soccer the team wants to play.

“This year, everyone who goes to the stadium is going to see that, so we need to make sure that, on top of everything else, it translates into wins.”

CD Estepona will return this Saturday at 9:00 p.m. to the Francisco Muñoz Pérez Stadium to host Linares Deportivo in the second matchday of the Segunda Federación, seeking their first victory of the season.

Listen to the full interview

The interview with Fran Martínez and Diego Partida on Deportes COPE Marbella can be heard in its entirety on the COPE Marbella section of CD Estepona Fans.

The full program is available on our website, with the interview with Fran Martínez starting at the 36-minute mark.

Listen to the full program on CD Estepona Fans · COPE Marbella

Interview: COPE Marbella Sports.
Image: CD Estepona.