{{short description|German footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Eric Martel |image = Eric Martel, FC RB Salzburg gegen FK Austria Wien (8. August 2021) (cropped).jpg |caption = Martel in 2021 |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|2002|4|29}} |birth_place = Straubing, Germany |height = 1.88 m |position = Centre-back, defensive midfielder |currentclub = 1. FC Köln |clubnumber = 6 |youthyears1 = 2015–2017 |youthclubs1 = Jahn Regensburg |youthyears2 = 2017–2020 |youthclubs2 = RB Leipzig |years1 = 2020–2022 |clubs1 = RB Leipzig |caps1 = 0 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 2021–2022 |clubs2 = → Austria Wien (loan) |caps2 = 51 |goals2 = 3 |years3 = 2022– |clubs3 = 1. FC Köln |caps3 = 121 |goals3 = 6 |nationalyears1 = 2020 |nationalteam1 = Germany U19 |nationalcaps1 = 1 |nationalgoals1 = 0 |nationalyears2 = 2021 |nationalteam2 = Germany U20 |nationalcaps2 = 3 |nationalgoals2 = 0 |nationalyears3 = 2021–2025 |nationalteam3 = Germany U21 |nationalcaps3 = 30 |nationalgoals3 = 3 |pcupdate = 16 May 2026 |ntupdate = 10:11, 29 June 2025 (UTC) |medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}} {{MedalCountry|{{fb|GER}}}} {{MedalCompetition|UEFA European Under-21 Championship}} {{Medal|RU|2025 Slovakia|}} }}

'''Eric Martel''' (born 29 April 2002) is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back and defensive midfielder for Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln.

==Career== Martel made his professional debut for RB Leipzig in the second round of the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal on 22 December 2020, coming on as a substitute in the 88th minute for Dayot Upamecano against Bundesliga side FC Augsburg. The away match finished as a 3–0 win.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/match-report/ma9162363/lineup/ |title=Germany » DFB-Pokal 2020/2021 » 2. Round » FC Augsburg – RB Leipzig 0:3 |work=WorldFootball.net |date=22 December 2020 |access-date=22 December 2020}}</ref>

On 24 June 2022, it was announced that Martel would transfer to 1. FC Köln, where he signed a four-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=1. FC Köln|url=https://fc.de/en/fc-info/news/detailpage/details/fc-sign-eric-martel/|title=FC SIGN ERIC MARTEL|date=24 June 2022|access-date=24 June 2022|archive-date=5 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405223213/https://fc.de/en/fc-info/news/detailpage/details/fc-sign-eric-martel/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 16 May 2026}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Austrian Cup, DFB-Pokal}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |RB Leipzig |2020–21 |Bundesliga |0||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Austria Wien (loan) |2020–21 |Austrian Bundesliga |21||1||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||22||1 |- |2021–22 |Austrian Bundesliga |30||2||2||1||2{{efn|name=UECL|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||34||3 |- !colspan="2"|Total !51!!3!!3!!1!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!56!!4 |- |rowspan="5"|1. FC Köln |2022–23 |Bundesliga |29||1||0||0||6{{efn|name=UECL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||35||1 |- |2023–24 |Bundesliga |30||1||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||32||1 |- |2024–25 |2. Bundesliga |31||3||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||3 |- |2025–26 |Bundesliga |31||1||2||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||33||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !121!!6!!7!!1!!6!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!134!!7 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !172!!9!!11!!2!!8!!0!!0!!0!!191!!11 |}

{{notelist}}

==Honours== '''1.FC Koln''' *2. Bundesliga: 2024–25<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/koeln-gegen-klautern-2025-bundesliga-4937379/analyse|title=Uth mit dem Schlusspunkt: Köln steigt als Zweitliga-Meister in die Bundesliga auf|website=kicker}}</ref>

'''Germany U21''' *UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=England 3-2 Germany (aet) highlights: Rowe header ensures Young Lions retain title |url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/029a-1e1c8234a435-fbf73cb016a8-1000--england-3-2-germany-aet-highlights-rowe-header-ensures-youn/ |website=uefa.com |access-date=29 June 2025 |language=en |date=28 June 2025}}</ref>

'''Individual''' *UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2025<ref>{{cite web|website=UEFA|url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/029b-1e218d6c7f6f-b542bb91eb18-1000--2025-under-21-euro-team-of-the-tournament/|title=2025 Under-21 EURO Team of the Tournament|date=1 July 2025|access-date=2 July 2025}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons}} * {{DFB}} * {{Kicker}} * {{Soccerway}}

{{1. FC Köln squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martel, Eric}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Straubing Category:Footballers from Lower Bavaria Category:German men's footballers Category:Men's association football central defenders Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers Category:Germany men's youth international footballers Category:Austrian Football Bundesliga players Category:Bundesliga players Category:2. Bundesliga players Category:RB Leipzig players Category:FK Austria Wien players Category:1. FC Köln players Category:21st-century German sportsmen

{{Germany-footy-defender-stub}} {{Germany-footy-midfielder-2000s-stub}}