Kyle Martino facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kyle Hunter Martino | ||
| Date of birth | February 19, 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2001 | Virginia Cavaliers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2006 | Columbus Crew | 106 | (10) |
| 2006–2007 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 35 | (3) |
| Total | 141 | (13) | |
| International career | |||
| 2002–2006 | United States | 8 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Kyle Hunter Martino (born February 19, 1981) is an American former professional soccer player. He played for seven seasons in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a midfielder. He played for the Columbus Crew and Los Angeles Galaxy. After retiring from playing, he became a television soccer analyst and host.
Contents
Kyle Martino's Soccer Journey
High School Achievements
Kyle Martino went to Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut. He was a talented soccer player there. In 1998, after his final year, he was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. This award goes to the best high school athlete in the country.
College Soccer Career
From 1999 to 2001, Martino attended the University of Virginia. He played college soccer for the Virginia Cavaliers. During his time there, he scored 17 goals and made 21 assists. In his third year, he was named the ACC Player of the Year. He was also a finalist for the Hermann Trophy in both his second and third years. This award is given to the best college soccer player in the U.S.
Professional Playing Days
Martino left college after his junior year to join Major League Soccer (MLS). The Columbus Crew picked him eighth overall in the 2002 MLS Superdraft. In his first year, he scored two goals and had five assists in 22 games. He won the MLS Rookie of the Year Award for being the best new player. He helped lead the Crew's offense that season.
In 2004, Martino helped the Crew achieve the longest unbeaten streak in MLS history. In early 2006, he was traded to the LA Galaxy. This was part of a trade involving four players. Before the trade, Martino actually scored the winning goal against the Galaxy in a game.
Martino also had trials with European clubs. He tried out for NEC Nijmegen in the Netherlands and Leeds United in England. However, he did not sign a contract with either team.
On February 19, 2008, Kyle Martino retired from professional soccer. Doctors advised him to stop playing due to injuries he had received during his career.
Playing for the U.S. National Team
Kyle Martino played for the United States at the 2001 World Youth Championship. This is a big tournament for young players from around the world.
He didn't play much for the senior national team. His first game was on November 17, 2002, against El Salvador. He scored his only goal for the national team on October 12, 2005. It was against Panama in a World Cup qualifying game. The U.S. won that game 2-0.
International Goal Scored
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 12 October 2005 | Foxboro, United States |  Panama |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Life After Soccer
Broadcasting and Hosting
After retiring from playing, Martino became a soccer analyst and commentator. He worked for NBC Sports covering the English Premier League until the 2020-2021 season. Before that, he was a commentator for MLS games on ESPN.
Besides soccer, he has also been a television host. He hosted shows like 36 Hours on the Travel Channel and Spartan Race on NBC.
Running for U.S. Soccer President
On November 6, 2017, Martino announced he was taking a break from NBC Sports. He decided to run for president of the United States Soccer Federation. The election was in February 2018. However, his campaign was not successful.
Career Statistics Summary
Kyle Martino played a total of 141 games in Major League Soccer. He scored 13 goals during his time with the Columbus Crew and LA Galaxy. He also played in cup games and playoffs.
Awards and Achievements
Kyle Martino earned several honors during his career:
With Columbus Crew
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: 2002 (a major U.S. soccer tournament)
- MLS Supporters' Shield: 2004 (awarded to the team with the best regular season record)
Individual Awards
- MLS Rookie of the Year: 2002 (best new player in the league)
Personal Life
Kyle Martino married actress Eva Amurri on October 29, 2011. They have three children together: a daughter named Marlowe and two sons named Major and Mateo.
The couple announced their separation on November 15, 2019. Their divorce was finalized in March 2020, before their third child was born.
See also
In Spanish: Kyle Martino para niños
