Martino Rides Off into the Sunset

Connecticut Product Out of MLS

May 1, 2008

By Nick Williams

Kyle Martino has officially retired from the game after no MLS team picked him up following his March 3 release from the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Kyle Martino has retired from Major League Soccer.

The Westport, Conn. native played six years in the league, four with the Columbus Crew, which drafted him eighth overall out of Virginia in ‘02, and two more with the Galaxy. The midfielder finished his career with 141 appearances and 13 goals. He also scored a goal in his eight caps with the U.S. National Team.

Martino was the 1998-99 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year while attending Staples High School in Westport. He then went on to play at the University of Virginia from 1999-2001, scoring 17 goals and notching 21 assists in his three-year collegiate career. His junior season he was named ACC Player of the Year and was a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, given annually to the best player in the college ranks.

He declared for the MLS SuperDraft shortly after and was plucked in the first round (eighth overall) by the Crew. He made 22 appearances for Columbus that season, earning two goals and five assists en route to the MLS Rookie of the Year award.

Martino didn’t do much after and was traded to LA in 2006. He played almost two full seasons with the Galaxy before being waived last March 3.

With no other MLS teams calling, Martino has strolled off into the sunset. There have been reports that he’s working in the financial sector on Wall Street.

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