Chris Martinez brings an impressive track record of developing some of North America’s brightest young talents to the first team. In his time working in elite youth soccer in Colorado and Kansas, he played a significant role in developing eventual U.S. Men’s National Team talents Gianluca Busio, Same Vines and Cole Basset as well as Canadian National Team regular Tajon Buchanan.
Martinez’s experience in identifying and developing top young talents will provide tremendous value for Houston Dynamo FC as the Club aims to establish itself as one of the premier destinations for top young talent in North and South America. The busy offseason has already seen the additions of 23-year-old Designated Player Sebastian Ferreira, fourth overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft Thor Ulfarsson, U.S. Youth National Team prospect Brooklyn Raines, and the regular integration of Academy and second team players into first team training. Martinez’s experience in developing young players also translates into the development of senior players, as the team looks to return to the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2022.
“I think it’s just about teaching the daily reiteration of what it takes to be a professional at any age. I like to say that you need to be a 24/7 pro. On the field, off the field, how you rest, how you prepare, how you train, really everything revolves around that,” Martinez said. “It’s about reminding them on a daily basis of the expected standards of what it takes to continue to push as hard as possible to be the best versions of themselves.”
Martinez coaching career began in elite youth soccer in Colorado, eventually becoming Director of Player Development at Real Colorado, earning U-15/16 Coach of the Year for the Central Conference in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy in 2015 and worked closely with Buchanan, who recently transferred from New England Revolution to Club Brugge for a reported $7 million fee, as well as many other future professionals who came through the nationally recognized club.
After his work with Real Colorado, Martinez rejoined the Rapids organization, this time as the Development Academy Program Director, where he contributed to the development of Vines and Basset. Vines recently completed a move from Colorado Rapids to Royal Antwerp for a reported $2 million fee and Basset is currently on loan from the Rapids to Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie.
In 2018, he joined new Houston Dynamo FC head coach Paulo Nagamura at Sporting KC II in 2018, where he helped develop a new generation of homegrown players to impact the Sporting KC first team, including Busio, who rose through the Sporting KC professional pathway to the U.S. Men’s National Team and recently transferred to Venezia FC for a reported $6.5 million fee with $4 million in incentives.
When working with top talents, Martinez also draws on his playing experience that spanned nearly a decade and included a four-year stint with the Colorado Rapids that saw him make 108 appearances for the club. Prior to his time with the Rapids, Martinez played two seasons with the Wichita Wings of the National Professional Soccer League as well as three seasons with the Colorado Foxes of the American Professional Soccer League.
Martinez was so well regarded for his playing and coaching career in Colorado that he was inducted into the Colorado Soccer Hall of Fame in 2020. For him, the recognition was the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.
"It was just an unbelievable honor,” Martinez said. “Growing up in Colorado and playing youth soccer there and then having the ability to go back and play professionally after my college days at Clemson was truly amazing and a blessing. So, to be recognized by my peers was just a great honor and something that I'm very proud of."
Martinez is not done looking for new accolades as he and the rest of the Dynamo launch their campaign to return to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs this Sunday when they host Real Salt Lake in the season opener.
