Josef Martínez

Josef Martínez
Personal information
Full name Josef Alexander Martínez Mencia
Date of birth (1993-05-19) 19 May 1993
Place of birth Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Atlanta United
Number 7
Youth career
–2010 Caracas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Caracas 36 (8)
2012–2014 Young Boys 37 (4)
2013–2014 → Thun (loan) 18 (8)
2014–2017 Torino 58 (7)
2017 → Atlanta United (loan) 3 (5)
2017– Atlanta United 51 (46)
National team‡
2011–2013 Venezuela U20 4 (2)
2011– Venezuela 43 (9)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 03:36, 10 October 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 03:59, 08 September 2018 (UTC)

Josef Alexander Martínez Mencia (born 19 May 1993) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Major League Soccer club Atlanta United FC and the Venezuela national team.

Josef Martinez began his career with Caracas. In 2012, he was acquired by Swiss Super League club Young Boys, before spending a year on loan at Thun. In 2014, he was sold to Italian club Torino, and in 2017, Major League Soccer expansion side, Atlanta United FC. He holds the MLS record for career hat-tricks with six in his first 44 games, the record for goals in a single season (28 in 2018), and co-holds the record for most consecutive games with a goal (9, shared with Diego Valeri).

He is a former Venezuela under-20 international. In 2011, he made his debut for the senior Venezuela national team against El Salvador.

Club career

Caracas FC

Martínez made his debut for Caracas FC on 21 August 2010 against Estudiantes de Mérida, entering as a substitute in the 70th minute, won 1–0. He scored his first goal in a 2–2 draw against Deportivo Petare on 21 November 2010.[1]

BSC Young Boys

On 3 January 2012 Caracas announced Martínez had been sold to BSC Young Boys in the Swiss Super League for a period of four years with fellow right-back Alexander Gonzalez. He debuted on 5 February 2012 against Servette FC, which the Young Boys won 3–1. After a string of good performances, Martínez was called up to the Venezuela national team, as well as awarded his first start for Young Boys on 21 October 2012, in which he scored his first goal for the Swiss club with a volley in the 50th minute against Grasshopper Club Zürich.

FC Thun

After one season in the Swiss capital city, he was sent on loan to Thun. After scoring 8 goals in 18 games with the team from Bernese Oberland, he was momentarily the top scorer in the Swiss Super League and recalled by Young Boys.[2]

Torino F.C.

On 7 June 2014, he was sold to Italian Serie A club Torino for a reported fee of €3 million.[3][4] He made his debut in a 0–3 away win against Sweden's Brommapojkarna in the third round of the 2014–15 Europa League.[5] He scored his first goal for the Granata in the return leg, won 4–0 in Turin (7–0 on agg.).[6]

He made his league debut on 14 September in a 2–0 loss away to Sampdoria.[7] On 7 December, he scored his first goal in Serie A during a 2–2 draw with Palermo.[8] Four days later, he scored his first brace in the Europa League against Copenhagen, which ended 1–5 in favour of Torino.[9]

On 30 April 2016, he scored his first brace in Serie A, as Torino won 1–5 away to Udinese.[10]

Atlanta United FC

On 2 February 2017, he was loaned with a buying option to Major League Soccer expansion team Atlanta United.[11][12] He made his league debut on 5 March in a 1–2 home defeat against New York Red Bulls.[13] He scored his first career hat-trick, and the first hat-trick in the history of the club, in a 6–1 win at Minnesota United the following week.[14]

On 21 March, Atlanta announced they had activated the buyout clause for an undisclosed transfer fee.[15] He was named the MLS Player of the Month for March after scoring five goals in his first three games in the league.[16]

On 23 March, while playing for the Venezuelan national team against Peru, Martínez injured his left quadricep.[17] After more than two months of recuperation, he returned to action only to be injured again over the summer. Upon his return from the second injury, he scored hat tricks in two consecutive games against the New England Revolution and Orlando City, and was named the MLS Player of the Month for September 2017.[18] Atlanta United finished in a tie for third in the Eastern Conference, but were eliminated in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs by Columbus Crew. Despite only making 20 appearances (all competitions) due to injury, Martínez finished his first year in Atlanta fourth in the league in scoring, with 20 goals in all competitions, and was named to the MLS Best XI for the 2017 season.[19]

On 2 June 2018, Martínez converted a late penalty kick against Philadelphia Union to notch his fifth MLS hat-trick, tying the league record for hat-tricks and doing so faster than any other player in league history.[20] He broke the record for hat-tricks on 21 July 2018 against DC United, after only 44 games.

He was voted the MLS Player of the Month for July 2018 after scoring nine goals and adding one assist to lead the Five Stripes to a 3–1–1 record.[21]

He scored the only goal for the MLS All-Stars in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game against Juventus, a 1–1 draw, and was named MVP.[22][23]

On 24 August 2018, he scored his 28th goal of the season, a game winner in Orlando City, to break the league single-season record of 27, held by Roy Lassiter, Chris Wondolowski, and Bradley Wright-Phillips. After failing to capitalize on numerous opportunities, Martínez utilized his quick footwork to cut back against the defender and then chip Joe Bendik to set the record in just his 26th match. He was named MLS Player of the Month for August 2018.[24]

International career

Martínez made his international debut on 7 August 2011 against El Salvador as a substitute in the 76th minute.[1]

On 10 November 2016 (matchday 11 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification), Martínez scored a hat-trick against Bolivia in a 5–0 win in Maturín.

Style of play

Primarily a forward, Martinez usually plays as a main striker, but is also capable of playing as a winger. Known for his eye for goal, he is capable of scoring both with his head and with his feet, which makes him a dangerous attacking threat in the penalty area.[25]

Career statistics

Club

As of 20 September 2018[1][25]
Club Season League Domestic Cup League Cup [lower-alpha 1] Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Caracas 2010–11 214——71285
2011–12 154——00154
Total 368000071439
Young Boys 2011–12 11000——110
2012–13 8110——91
2013–14 18300——183
Total 374100000384
FC Thun 2013–14 18831—1113210
Total 18831001113210
Torino 2014–15 26311—133407
2015–16 21321——234
2016–17 11111——122
Total 58743001337513
Atlanta United 2017 20191110—2220
2018 37320000—3732
Total 54511110005952
Career totals 20678951031524788
  1. ↑ Includes: MLS Cup Playoffs

International

Venezuela national team
YearAppsGoals
201130
201230
201362
201430
201572
2016155
201750
Total429

International goals

GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef
1.22 May 2013Metropolitano de Mérida, Mérida, Venezuela El Salvador2–12–1Friendly
2.14 August 2013Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela Bolivia1–02–2Friendly
3.31 March 2015Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States Peru1–01–0Friendly
4.17 November 2015Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela Ecuador1–31–32018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.5 June 2016Soldier Field, Chicago, United States Jamaica1–01–0Copa América Centenario
6.6 September 2016Metropolitano de Mérida, Mérida, Venezuela Argentina2–02–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
7.10 November 2016Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín, Venezuela Bolivia2–05–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
8.3–0
9.4–0

Honours

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Venezuela - J. Martínez - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". Uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  2. ↑ Armero, Andrés (16 December 2013). "El venezolano Josef Martínez regresa al BSC Young Boys". MARCA (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Martinez al Toro". Torino F.C. (in Italian). 7 June 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  4. ↑ "UFFICIALE: Torino, acquistato Josef Martinez. Contratto quadriennale - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com".
  5. ↑ "BROMMAPOJKARNA VS. TORINO 0 - 3". soccerway.com. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "TORINO VS. BROMMAPOJKARNA 4 - 0". soccerway.com. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "Sampdoria vs. Torino - 14 September 2014 - Soccerway". au.soccerway.com.
  8. ↑ "Torino vs. Palermo - 6 December 2014 - Soccerway". au.soccerway.com.
  9. ↑ "København vs. Torino - 11 December 2014 - Soccerway". au.soccerway.com.
  10. ↑ "Udinese vs. Torino - 30 April 2016 - Soccerway". au.soccerway.com.
  11. ↑ "Martinez all'Atlanta". Torino F.C. (in Italian). 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "Atlanta United Acquire Josef Martinez as Designated Player". Atlanta United. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  13. ↑ "Atlanta United vs. New York RB - 6 March 2017 - Soccerway". au.soccerway.com.
  14. ↑ "Minnesota United vs. Atlanta United - 12 March 2017 - Soccerway". au.soccerway.com.
  15. ↑ "Atlanta United finalize permanent transfer of Josef Martínez". Atlanta United. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  16. 1 2 Stejskal, Sam (5 April 2017). "Atlanta United FC's Josef Martinez named MLS Player of the Month for March". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  17. ↑ McCartney, Cory (28 March 2017). "With Josef Martínez out 4-6 weeks, how will Atlanta United replace him?". Fox Sports South. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  18. 1 2 Stejskal, Sam (5 October 2017). "Josef Martinez runs away with September honor | Alcatel Player of the Month". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  19. 1 2 "2017 MLS Best XI revealed: Who was the best in 2017?". MLS Soccer. 30 November 2017.
  20. ↑ Roberson, Doug (2 June 2018). "Martinez ties MLS mark in leading Atlanta United to win". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  21. 1 2 Boehm, Charles (3 August 2018). "ATL's Josef Martinez wins July MLS Player of the Month pres. by EA Sports". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  22. 1 2 "2018 MLS All-Star Roster". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  23. 1 2 Couch, Ben (1 August 2018). "Josef Martinez named 2018 MLS All-Star Game MVP". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  24. 1 2 Boehm, Charles (September 5, 2018). "Atlanta United's Josef Martinez named August MLS Player of the Month". Major League Soccer. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  25. 1 2 "Josef Martinez". www.mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
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