Aizawl FC to Arsenal: Izan Martin’s Flight from Lushai Hills to London as Fitness Coach

Arsenal have ended their long wait for a Premier League title this season. Mikel Arteta’s army won the league after 22 years, thus paving the path for a new era.

Amidst the Gunners’ monumental achievement, the Arsenal fans have rejoiced across the globe. India has a huge base of Arsenal supporters, who celebrated their favourite club’s title-winning campaign. But quite astonishingly, the north-east state of Mizoram has found a connection with the Gunners.

In a heartwarming tale that binds Indian football to the Premier League powerhouse Arsenal, Spanish fitness coach Izan Pedro Martín Andrés stands as a living bridge. The 34-year-old, now Arsenal’s first-team fitness coach under Mikel Arteta, once honed his craft on the rugged pitches of Aizawl FC in India’s Northeast.

Martín’s Indian chapter began in August 2017 when the I-League champions Aizawl FC appointed the then-26-year-old as assistant coach alongside Paulo Meneses. Fresh from stints with Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC and Spain’s youth national teams, he brought cutting-edge European fitness and conditioning methods to the hills of Mizoram. Adapting high-intensity training to local conditions, humid weather, and a passionate but resource-limited setup, Martín helped shape player recovery and tactical sharpness during a tough campaign.

Though his time in India was brief – ending with a managerial sack in February 2018 amid poor results – the experience proved transformative. Immersed in Mizo culture, local talent, and the raw passion of Indian football, Martín learned resilience and adaptability that would later define his approach at elite levels.

From Aizawl’s modest stadiums, Martín took flight through a series of calculated steps. He returned to Europe, building expertise in load management and performance science with Dnipro in Ukraine. His big break came in 2022 when Arsenal recognised his credentials, appointing him as first-team fitness coach.

Today, he works alongside Arteta’s staff, playing a key role in keeping Arsenal’s squad among the fittest and most durable in the Premier League. Izan’s role has been valuable in bringing back players to fitness, as the likes of Mikel Merino, Jurrien Timber all have made a speedy recovery after long-term injuries.

As Arsenal chases more glory, the Spaniard’s Indian roots add a unique Indian chapter to the Gunners’ success narrative.