Martinez becomes shortest central defender in upcoming PL season



Manchester United new boy Lisandro Martinez is now the shortest central defender in the Premier League next season, according to the PA News agencyafter joining from Ajax in a £56.7m deal.


The Argentina international stands at 5ft 9in (1.75m) - a clear inch shorter than any other regular centre-back in the top flight.


The closest comparison is a converted full-back, Chelsea's 5ft 10in (1.78m) Cesar Azpilicueta, who has frequently played on the right of a back three in recent seasons with Reece James outside him as a wing-back.

Aaron Cresswell, shorter than Martinez at 5ft 7in (1.70m), was occasionally pressed into service at centre-back for West Ham last season but continued to operate overwhelmingly in his favoured left-back or wing-back position, playing the equivalent of around three full games in the middle.


Even including Cresswell, only 13 Premier League centre-backs are listed at under six feet tall.

Martinez's arrival means the average height of United's centre-backs is 186.5cm, or just over 6ft 1in. 


Harry Maguire is tallest at 194cm (6ft 4in), Raphael Varane 191cm, Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof both 187cm and Phil Jones 185cm (6ft 1in).

Only Tottenham (186.3), Chelsea and Manchester City, both at 186cm, and Leeds (185.9) have a lower average.

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