Lucas Martin facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | February 22, 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1986–1988 | UCLA | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1987–1990 | San Diego Nomads | ||
| 1994 | Sacramento Knights (indoor) | 14 | (4) |
| National team | |||
| 1988 | United States | 2 | (0) |
|
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Lucas Martin was born on February 22, 1968. He is a former American soccer player who played as a forward. Martin played for several teams, including the San Diego Nomads. He also played two games for the U.S. national team. After his soccer career, he became a successful chef. Today, he co-owns and is the head chef of K&L Bistro in Sebastopol, California.
Contents
Early Life and Soccer Beginnings
Lucas Martin grew up in Sterling, Virginia, during his elementary school years. He started playing soccer at a young age, learning from his older brother, Danny. When he first began, Lucas even wanted to be a goalkeeper!
In the mid-1970s, Lucas joined a travel soccer team called the 1967 Sterling Blackhawks. Travel soccer means playing against teams from different towns. Later, his family moved to La Jolla in the late 1970s. He went to La Jolla High School and finished in 1986. After high school, he attended UCLA and played on their men's soccer team from 1986 to 1988. In 1986, he was named the best offensive player for his team.
Playing Professional Soccer
While still studying at UCLA in 1986, Lucas Martin started playing professionally. He joined the San Diego Nomads in the Western Soccer Alliance. He played with the Nomads until the 1990 season. The Nomads were very successful, winning the Western Soccer Alliance championship in both 1987 and 1989.
In 1990, the Western Soccer Alliance joined with another league to form the American Professional Soccer League. The Nomads did not make it to the playoffs that year and left the league. On July 15, 1994, Lucas signed with the Sacramento Knights, an indoor soccer team in the Continental Indoor Soccer League. He finished his professional playing career with the Knights.
Playing for the National Team
Lucas Martin was chosen to play for the U.S. team in the 1987 FIFA U-20 World Championship. This is a big international tournament for players under 20 years old. The U.S. team won one game and lost two, so they did not move past the first round.
The next year, in January 1988, Lucas played two games for the U.S. national team. These games are called "caps." His first game was a 1–0 loss against Guatemala on January 10. He came into the game as a substitute for another player. Three days later, he played in a second game against Guatemala, which the U.S. won 1–0.
Life After Soccer: Becoming a Chef
After he stopped playing professional soccer, Lucas Martin started a new career as a chef. He worked in several famous restaurants in San Francisco, including Jardinière, Chapeau, the Rubicon, and Hayes Street Grill. These were all top places to eat!
While working at Hayes Street Grill, he met his wife, Karen. In October 2001, Lucas and Karen opened their own restaurant called K&L Bistro in Sebastopol, California. They both work there as chefs, creating delicious food for their customers.
