José Andrés Martínez

Venezuelan footballer (born 1994)
José Andrés Martínez
Personal information
Full name José Andrés Martínez Torres
Date of birth (1994-08-07) 7 August 1994 (age 29)
Place of birth Maracaibo, Venezuela
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Philadelphia Union
Number 8
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 JBL Zulia 60 (3)
2018–2019 Zulia 61 (2)
2020– Philadelphia Union 87 (3)
International career‡
2021– Venezuela 14 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 July 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:40, 30 January 2022 (UTC)

José Andrés Martínez Torres (born 7 August 1994) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer and the Venezuela national team.[2] Martínez has been referred to by the nickname "el Brujo" (Spanish for "the Wizard").[3][4]

Club career

Zulia

After two seasons with Deportivo JBL del Zulia, Martínez signed with Zulia FC ahead of the Apertura tournament in December 2017.[5] While with Zulia, he earned the 2018 Copa Venezuela title and made a historic run in the Copa Sudamericana; advancing through to the quarter-finals.[6]

Philadelphia Union

In December 2019, Martínez signed a two-year contract with Philadelphia Union competing in Major League Soccer for a transfer fee reported around $325,000.[7] Martínez made his debut start for the Union in a 3-3 draw at Los Angeles FC.[8] During the 2020 season, Martinez grew praise for his quality of play as one of the best defensive midfielders in MLS.[9][10] His first season in MLS finished with 14 regular season starts, contributing two assists, and ultimately resulting in the Union's first trophy, the 2020 Supporters' Shield.[11] In January 2021, Martinez signed a new contract with the Union through the 2022 season, with options for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.[11][12]

On June 21, 2023, Jose Martinez scored his first ever wonder-goal for the Union which was nominated for the MLS Goal of the Year Award

International career

Martinez received his first official call up to the Venezuela national team in October 2020.[13] He represented the senior Venezuela national team in a 3–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification loss to Bolivia on 3 June 2021.[14]

Career statistics

Club

As of 21 November 2021[15]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
JBL Zulia 2015 Venezuelan Primera División 0 0 0 0 – 2[a] 0 2 0
2016 32 2 2[b] 0 – 0 0 34 2
2017 28 1 0 0 – 0 0 28 1
Total 60 3 2 0 0 0 2 0 64 3
Zulia 2018 Venezuelan Primera División 28 1 6[b] 0 0 0 0 0 34 1
2019 33 1 3[b] 0 8[c] 0 0 0 44 1
Total 61 2 9 0 8 0 0 0 78 2
Philadelphia Union 2020 MLS 14 0 0 0 0 0 4[d] 0 18 0
2021 24 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 29 0
Total 38 0 0 0 4 0 5 0 47 0
Career total 159 5 11 0 12 0 7 0 189 5
Notes
  1. ^ Appearances in the Venezuelan Primera División Relegation playoffs
  2. ^ a b c Appearances in the Copa Venezuela
  3. ^ Appearances in the Copa Sudamericana
  4. ^ Appearances in the MLS is Back Tournament

Honours

Zulia FC

Philadelphia Union

Individaual

References

  1. ^ "José Andrés Martínez". Philadelphia Union. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Jose "El Brujo" Martinez | Philadelphia Union Profile". philadelphiaunion.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Five Fast Facts on Union signee Jose Martinez". philadelphiaunion.com. 23 December 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  4. ^ Tom Bogert (23 December 2019). "Philadelphia Union acquire defensive midfielder Jose Andres Martinez". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  5. ^ JR (1 December 2017). "Zulia anunció al "Brujo" Martínez". lavinotinto.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  6. ^ Dominic José Bisogno (20 August 2020). "José Andrés Martínez – El Brujo – The Maracucho Identity & The Next Venezuelan To Light Up MLS". worldfootballindex.com. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  7. ^ Jonathan Tannenwald (23 December 2019). "Union sign José Andrés Martínez, Venezuelan defensive midfielder, to start offseason shopping". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  8. ^ Nick Fishman (9 March 2020). "Match report: Los Angeles FC 3-3 Philadelphia Union". The Philly Soccer Page. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  9. ^ Tom Bogert (3 August 2020). "Philadelphia Union midfielder Jose Martinez drawing comparisons to Portland Timbers' Diego Chara". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Debating who is currently the best defensive midfielder in MLS". MLSsoccer.com. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Philadelphia Union Sign Midfielder Jose Martinez To New Contract". philadelphiaunion.com. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  12. ^ Tom Bogert (27 January 2021). "Philadelphia Union and midfielder Jose Martinez agree to new contract". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  13. ^ "'El Brujo' Martínez se sumará a la Vinotinto este miércoles en Barranquilla" (in Spanish). El Nacional. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  14. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Qualifiers - South America - Matches - Bolivia - Venezuela - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020.
  15. ^ José Andrés Martínez at Soccerway. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Philadelphia Union signs Venezuelan defensive midfielder José Andrés Martínez". 23 December 2019.
  17. ^ "Philadelphia Union win 2020 MLS Supporters' Shield on regular season's final day". Major League Soccer. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  18. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (5 November 2022). "Hollywood ending! LAFC win legendary MLS Cup 2022 over Philadelphia Union". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  19. ^ "2023 MLS All-Star Team Roster". Major League Soccer. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

External links

  • v
  • t
  • e
Philadelphia Union – current squad
  • Head Coach: Curtin
  • Assistant Coach: Leicht
  • Assistant Coach: Richter
  • Goalkeeping Coach: Wheddon
  • Sporting Director: Tanner
  • v
  • t
  • e
Venezuela squad – 2021 Copa América
Venezuela