Emi Martinez has revealed next career objective as Aston Villa goalkeeper wins another Yashin Trophy

Aston Villa's Emi Martinez has become the first goalkeeper to retain the Yashin Trophy after being crowned the best goalkeeper in the world for a second successive year.

Since joining Villa from Arsenal for just £17m in the summer of 2020, Martinez has now won two Yashin Trophies, The Best FIFA Goalkeeper, plus the World Cup and the Copa América (x2), as well as Golden Glove awards from all three tournaments he has competed in with his nation.

After committing his future to Villa until 2029 back in August, Martinez made clear his next career ambition: to win a trophy with his club.

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"If you want to be the best, to be the best Villa or win a trophy, you need to improve yourself from last season," Martinez insisted after penning his new deal. "There is a lot of improvement [to be had]. We conceded a lot of goals [last season], it’s something we need to reduce, it’s something I’m trying to work on with Javi and Unai.

"If we can reduce the amount of goals we are conceding, I think we have got more chance of being in the top four and winning a trophy, something that has been missing for – I don’t know – more than 40 years? It is something that the fans really want. I am talking to Javi [goalkeeping coach], I’m speaking loudly in training saying: 'We need to win a trophy, we need to at least play a final'. This club and these fans deserve a cup run.

"That’s the aim [to win trophies]. That’s one of the reasons why I had so many meetings with Monchi and Damian at the Copa America. I love it here, obviously, but I wouldn’t stay at a club where I don’t see progress. Because I want to achieve things, I want to win things, I want to keep trying to be the best goalie in the world if I can. They showed me the plan, Unai's plan, who Unai wants to sign … we know how he works and it is amazing. I want to be at a club where they are moving forward.

"With the manager we have got, he was in the semi-final of the Champions League with Villarreal. He won five Europa Leagues … for Villa, it being our first time in the Champions League, it is going to be new for us, but when you have a manager and players like we have you can go all of the way.

"I know with PSR they can’t really sign as much as the owner wants, it’s going to be a little bit harder than everyone thinks. We had to sell players, which Unai didn’t want, so it is a work in progress. With players coming in, they need to adapt to the new system and so it is not easy for Unai either.

"Last year we had the experience of a semi-final of a European competition. Now it is going to be harder. If we manage to keep everyone fit then we can go [deep]. If we have four, five, six injuries, then we are going to be struggling. In the meantime, with everyone fit, I believe that we can compete with anyone."