Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Sporting KC signs SuperDraft pick Alex Martinez

SportingKC.com

KANSAS CITY, KAN. -----  Sporting Kansas City has signed 2014 MLS SuperDraft selection Alex Martinez, the club announced on Tuesday. The 22-year-old midfielder will occupy one of the team's three available supplemental roster spots.

"I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to play for the best team in MLS," Martinez said. "I have worked for this my whole life. Since I was three or four years old, I have wanted to play professional soccer. Now that it's happened, I want to make the most of the opportunity."

Martinez was selected in the third round of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft out of North Carolina State University. After a strong showing at the MLS Player Combine, Martinez saw minutes in seven of Sporting Kansas City's 10 preseason matches and contributed three assists.

Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Martinez moved to the United States at age nine and starred at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, S.C. He led the school to three state championships and a No. 1 ranking nationally in the ESPN and NSCAA polls en route to earning All-American recognition.

He began his collegiate career at High Point University with 12 goals and four assists through his sophomore season. After being recruited to North Carolina State, he scored 13 goals and added 18 assists in two seasons for the Wolfpack as a First Team All-ACC honoree. Martinez also played for the Carolina Dynamo in 2013, recording four goals and five assists for the Premier Development League side.

VITALS
Alex Martinez
Position: Midfielder
Number: TBD
Born: 8/25/1991
Height: 5-8
Weight: 160
Hometown: Montevideo, Uruguay
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
Citizenship: Uruguay
College: North Carolina State Univ.
Twitter: @AlexMartinez_15
Instagram: alex15martinez