Jon Martín: Meet the latest talent coming off Real Sociedad's conveyor belt

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Captain of the Spanish U17 national team, tall and with a very strong game. Those are the keywords one hears whenever anyone talks about the Basque talent Jon Martín from Real Sociedad. Under head coach Imanol Alguacil, who has been in charge since 2018, 22 talents have managed to find their way into the first team. Martín will likely be the next.

The center-back is already a regular in first-team practice. Already a regular in the third Spanish division for the second team, Sanse, Martín has already scored two goals. The same amount as he has managed in two UEFA Youth League games. Despite having a strong game, Martín is very good in one-on-one situations, shows discipline, and is great in the air. He is also comfortable to play as a right or left center. The chance that you will see Martín with the first team in the future is very high. His leadership qualities and sporting development are married to a highly functioning club, which has perfected talent development.

Real Sociedad are a prime example of a club that works well on every single level. The continuous success of the first team also makes the club more attractive to young talents. The overall dynamic of the club is very positive.

That sort of development was underlined by La Real’s first-place finish in the Champions League and qualification for the round of 16. In LaLiga, the club has the third youngest with an average age of 25, and the percentage of players that were developed in the club’s academy and are now key players is high. The current squad of the Spanish national team has five players from Real Sociedad, more than any other Spanish club. As a result, the decision-makers and fans are more than satisfied at the moment with Real Sociedad’s performances, which are based on a clear vision and structures that were established many years ago and have since been developed further.

Next to La Masia (Barcelona) and Lezama (Athletic Club), the Zubieta, as Real Sociedad’s academy is called, is currently one of the best in Spain. Of course, the academies of Real Madrid, Atlético, and Valencia are also strong, but they currently don’t have the same sort of permeability and strength as in previous years. More regionally, the youth academies of CA Osasuna and Deportivo Alavés are big competitors for Real Sociedad.

But unlike the more restrictive competitor from Bilbao, where players are only allowed if they have a Basque heritage, Real Sociedad have a lower limit of 80% of players from the province of Gipuzko. The rest is acquired from all over the world.

The youth academy is run by director Luki Iriarte. Academy and forming of character are a big part of the youth development program at the club. Mikel Oyarzabal, the captain of the first team, for example, has a higher education degree in business administration and management. He is a role model on and off the field represents the club’s philosophy, and secures a strong identification with the club from the entire region. A role that one day Martín could also fulfill.

From December 1 to 24, we introduce new players from different countries born in 2006 and 2007. Area managers, users, and data scouts come into play as experts throughout the series. You can follow all those players by adding them to your TM watchlist.