Last Updated on September 8, 2026 by Laurinda Jocias
Iván Martín’s family background helps explain why the Spanish midfielder was born in Bilbao but grew up hundreds of kilometres away in Murcia. Born Iván Martín Núñez on February 14, 1999, he is the son of a father from Madrid and a mother from Burgos. His father’s career with Spain’s Guardia Civil required the family to move between different parts of the country during Iván’s childhood.
The family eventually settled in Torre Pacheco, Murcia, where Martín began playing football at around six years old. From there, he entered Villarreal’s academy, became a professional footballer and later established himself at Girona before joining Real Racing Club in August 2026.
Compared with his football career, Martín keeps his private life relatively discreet. The names of his parents have not been reliably published, and there is little confirmed information about possible siblings. He has previously been publicly linked to a woman named Gema Abellón, although recent major sports publications have not provided enough information to confidently describe his current relationship status.
Who are Iván Martín’s parents?
Iván Martín was born to a father from Madrid and a mother from Burgos. Their full names have not been reliably disclosed by established Spanish sports publications.
His father’s profession had an unusual influence on Iván’s birthplace. Martín was born in Bilbao not because his family was originally Basque, but because his father was serving there as a Guardia Civil officer when his son was born.
The family subsequently moved again when his father received another posting, eventually establishing themselves in Torre Pacheco in the Region of Murcia.
This background has regularly attracted attention because Martín’s birth in Bilbao made him eligible under Athletic Club’s traditional recruitment philosophy, even though he did not actually grow up in the Basque Country.
Who is Iván Martín’s father?
Iván Martín’s father is originally from Madrid and worked as an officer in the Guardia Civil. His name has not been widely disclosed in reliable public sources.
According to reports from Relevo, AS and other Spanish publications, Martín’s father was stationed in Bilbao around the time Iván was born in February 1999.
His work later took the family away from the Basque Country. Martín eventually grew up in Torre Pacheco, Murcia, where his father was also posted.
The unusual circumstances surrounding his father’s profession explain one of the most frequently discussed details of Martín’s career. Although he was officially born in Bilbao, his formative sporting and personal experiences occurred predominantly in Murcia rather than Euskadi.
Why was Iván Martín born in Bilbao?
Iván Martín was born in Bilbao because his father was working there as a Guardia Civil officer at the time.
Relevo described his Bilbao birth as largely circumstantial, noting that his father came from Madrid and had simply been assigned to the Basque city professionally.
When his father’s employment situation changed, the family moved with him. They eventually settled in Torre Pacheco, where Iván spent most of his childhood and began his football development.
Who is Iván Martín’s mother?
Iván Martín’s mother is originally from Burgos, Spain. Her name has not been reliably established in mainstream public sources.
She has maintained a particularly private life despite her son’s success in LaLiga. Spanish reports discussing Martín’s background consistently identify her as Burgalese but provide few additional personal details.
Like Iván’s father, his mother supported a childhood that involved several geographical changes before the family settled in Murcia.
She was also part of the family structure supporting Martín when football increasingly became a serious career possibility. By the time he was 13, Villarreal had recruited him into one of Spain’s highly regarded youth academies.
Where is Iván Martín’s family from?
Iván Martín’s immediate family has roots in different areas of Spain. His father is from Madrid, while his mother is from Burgos.
Iván himself was born in Bilbao in the Basque Country because of his father’s work assignment. However, he was raised primarily in Torre Pacheco, Murcia.
That combination has sometimes created confusion about Martín’s geographical identity. He is Bilbao-born, has Madrid and Burgos family roots, and considers Torre Pacheco an important part of his upbringing.
The municipality has continued recognizing him as one of its leading athletes. In 2026, Torre Pacheco named Martín its best male athlete as part of the local sports awards.
How did Iván Martín’s family end up in Torre Pacheco?
The family’s move to Torre Pacheco was again connected with Iván’s father’s work in the Guardia Civil.
After his period in Bilbao, Martín’s father was assigned elsewhere, and the family eventually established itself in the Murcian municipality.
Torre Pacheco became far more important to Iván’s football development than the city in which he was born. He began playing there at approximately six years old and joined the local football structure before attracting Villarreal’s attention.
Martín remained in Murcia until Villarreal recruited him as a young teenager in February 2012.
Does Iván Martín have siblings?
There is no reliable public information confirming whether Iván Martín has brothers or sisters.
Major Spanish profiles of the midfielder usually discuss his father, mother and the family’s movement around Spain, but they do not publicly identify any siblings.
This does not necessarily mean that Martín is an only child. It simply means that brothers or sisters, if he has them, have remained outside the media spotlight.
Because possible siblings would be private individuals, names circulating without confirmation from Martín or a dependable publication should not be presented as established members of his family.
Who is Iván Martín’s girlfriend?
Iván Martín has previously been publicly linked to Gema Abellón. However, information about the midfielder’s current romantic life is limited, and no recent major Spanish sports publication has firmly confirmed whether the relationship remains ongoing as of now.
Biographical sources have identified Gema as Martín’s girlfriend and referenced photographs and trips the couple shared publicly, including visits to France and Rome.
The available information suggests that they had been together for several years, but Martín does not regularly discuss his private relationships in interviews.
For that reason, it is more responsible to describe Gema Abellón as a publicly reported partner rather than state definitively that she remains his current girlfriend without newer confirmation.
Who is Gema Abellón?
Gema Abellón is the woman who has been publicly identified as Iván Martín’s longtime girlfriend.
She appears to maintain a relatively private life and is not widely covered as a celebrity or public figure in her own right.
Secondary biographical reporting has connected her with Martín through photographs and trips shared during his career, including periods when the midfielder was establishing himself in professional football.
Unlike Martín’s football career, which is extensively covered by Spanish sports media, very little dependable biographical information is available about Gema’s profession, age or family background.
Is Iván Martín married?
There is no reliable public evidence that Iván Martín is married.
No marriage or wedding has been announced by the footballer, and established Spanish sports reporting does not currently identify him as having a wife.
Although he has been linked with Gema Abellón, available sources generally describe her as his girlfriend rather than his wife.
Does Iván Martín have children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Iván Martín has children.
The midfielder has not announced becoming a father, and reliable profiles of his personal life do not identify any sons or daughters.
As with his romantic life, Martín maintains considerable privacy outside football. The most accurate description is therefore that he has no publicly known children as of now.
How Iván Martín’s parents supported his football career
Although Martín’s parents rarely appear publicly, their role became especially important during his teenage years.
Iván began playing football in Torre Pacheco at around six years old. His ability quickly became apparent, and Villarreal brought him into its academy in 2012 when he was only 13.
Joining the Villarreal academy required another major transition for a youngster who had already experienced several family moves because of his father’s profession.
The stability provided by his family allowed Martín to continue developing within Villarreal’s system. He progressed through the youth categories before reaching Villarreal C and Villarreal B and eventually making his professional breakthrough.
Iván Martín’s childhood in Torre Pacheco
Torre Pacheco occupies a special place in Martín’s personal history. Although official football records list Bilbao as his birthplace, the Murcian town was where he truly grew up.
He began playing organized football there at approximately six years old and remained closely associated with the municipality even after his career took him elsewhere.
His performances eventually attracted Villarreal, which recruited him in 2012. Martín spent the next several years developing within the club’s renowned academy structure.
In May 2026, Torre Pacheco recognized his achievements by naming him the municipality’s best male athlete at its annual sports awards.
Iván Martín’s journey from Villarreal to professional football
After joining Villarreal at 13, Martín steadily progressed through the club’s academy. He eventually represented Villarreal C and Villarreal B before moving into senior professional football.
His first major loan spell came with Mirandés in the 2020/21 season. There, he worked under José Alberto López and gained significant experience in Spain’s second division.
Villarreal then loaned him to Deportivo Alavés for the 2021/22 campaign, giving him his first opportunity in LaLiga.
The spell in Vitoria proved difficult, and Martín played relatively few minutes before joining Girona midway through the season.
Girona became a second home for Iván Martín
Martín’s arrival at Girona in January 2022 transformed his career. He helped the Catalan club achieve promotion to LaLiga and gradually became one of coach Míchel’s most trusted midfielders.
Girona eventually signed him permanently from Villarreal in 2023.
The midfielder played a significant role during the club’s historic 2023/24 campaign, when Girona finished third in LaLiga and qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time.
His performances increased interest from other clubs, particularly Athletic Club, which could consider him because of his Bilbao birthplace.
Despite that attention, Martín remained with Girona for more than four seasons before beginning another chapter of his career in 2026.
Iván Martín joined Racing Santander in 2026
As of now, Iván Martín plays for Real Racing Club. Racing and Girona reached an agreement for his permanent transfer in August 2026.
The midfielder signed a contract with the Santander club running until June 30, 2030.
His decision also reunited him with coach José Alberto, under whom Martín had previously played during his successful loan spell at Mirandés.
At his Racing presentation, Martín explained that joining the club had been his priority and that the team’s style of play was an important factor in his decision.
He left Girona after more than four seasons and 133 LaLiga appearances overall in his senior career, beginning a new stage while remaining in Spanish football.
Family helped shape Iván Martín’s unusual Spanish identity
Few Spanish footballers have a geographical background quite like Martín’s.
His father came from Madrid, his mother from Burgos, his father’s job resulted in his birth in Bilbao, and the family later raised him in Murcia.
These different connections have followed Martín throughout his career. His Bilbao birthplace repeatedly generated interest from Athletic Club, while Torre Pacheco has continued celebrating him as one of its own athletes.
His story is therefore an example of how a family’s professional circumstances can shape a footballer’s identity. Bilbao may appear on Martín’s birth certificate, but Madrid, Burgos and Murcia are also important parts of his family history.
Frequently Asked Questions about Iván Martín’s family
Who are Iván Martín’s parents?
Iván Martín’s father is originally from Madrid, while his mother is from Burgos. Their full names have not been reliably disclosed publicly.
Who is Iván Martín’s father?
Iván Martín’s father is a Madrid-born former or longtime Guardia Civil officer. His work assignments caused the family to live in several parts of Spain during Iván’s childhood.
What is the name of Iván Martín’s father?
Reliable mainstream sources have not publicly established Iván Martín’s father’s full name.
Who is Iván Martín’s mother?
Iván Martín’s mother is originally from Burgos, Spain. She has maintained a private life and her name has not been reliably disclosed by major sports publications.
Why was Iván Martín born in Bilbao?
Iván Martín was born in Bilbao because his father, a Guardia Civil officer, was stationed there when Iván was born in February 1999.
Where did Iván Martín grow up?
Iván Martín grew up primarily in Torre Pacheco in the Region of Murcia, where he began playing football at around six years old.
Does Iván Martín have siblings?
There is currently no reliable public information confirming whether Iván Martín has brothers or sisters.
Who is Iván Martín’s girlfriend?
Iván Martín has been publicly linked to Gema Abellón. However, recent major sports publications have not clearly confirmed whether they remain together as of now.
Who is Gema Abellón?
Gema Abellón has been identified by secondary biographical sources as Iván Martín’s longtime girlfriend. She keeps a relatively private profile.
Is Iván Martín married?
There is no reliable public evidence that Iván Martín is married.
Does Iván Martín have children?
No children have been publicly confirmed for Iván Martín.
Is Iván Martín Basque?
Martín was born in Bilbao, but his father is from Madrid and his mother is from Burgos. He moved away from the Basque Country at a young age and was raised primarily in Torre Pacheco, Murcia.
Where is Iván Martín’s family from?
His father’s family is associated with Madrid and his mother’s side with Burgos. Iván himself was born in Bilbao and raised in Murcia.
Laurinda Jocias is a football writer covering English women’s football, including the Women’s Super League. Her work focuses on players, clubs, and the continued development of the women’s game in the UK.
