WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 23, 2024) - D.C. United have appointed Alex Martínez as Assistant Coach. Martínez joins the Black-and-Red coaching staff from Birmingham Legion FC of the USL Championship where he served as an assistant coach while also working closely with the Legion FC Academy. Martínez reunites with current D.C. United Head Coach, Troy Lesesne, after playing for him on the Charlotte Independence of the USL Championship for three seasons from 2016-2018.
“I've known Alex [Martínez] for over 15 years and had the pleasure of coaching him for three seasons at the Charlotte Independence.” Troy Lesesne, D.C. United Head Coach, said. “During his time as a player, he started his coaching career and he's always shown the characteristics that it takes to coach at this level. His initiative and intuition as a young coach are impressive and I'm looking forward to seeing him work with our players.”
The Uruguayan native was appointed Birmingham Legion FC’s Assistant Coach on March 28, 2023. Martínez helped Legion FC to a 14-4-16 record, qualifying for the 2023 USL Championship playoffs where they defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the first round 3-0. Martínez also assisted with the Legion FC Academy and the Club’s USL League Two team. Prior to this, Martínez served as the Head of Recruitment for Charlotte FC’s academy for two seasons from 2021-2022.
Martínez was selected in the third round of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City and officially signed with the club on March 4, 2014. Martínez would make his MLS debut on March 15, 2014 in a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas. He would go on to play 10 matches for Sporting Kansas City before joining Orange County Blues FC of the United Soccer League. Martínez would then sign for the United Soccer League expansion side Charlotte Independence in 2015 where he was coached by current D.C. United Head Coach, Troy Lesesne. Martínez spent four seasons with Charlotte Independence qualifying for the Round of 16 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in their inaugural season and making back-to-back playoff appearances in 2016 and 2017. In total, he appeared in 119 matches for Charlotte Independence, scoring nine goals and recording 17 assists before retiring in 2019. Martínez then served as the Head of Recruitment for Charlotte FC’s academy for two seasons from 2021-2022 before becoming the assistant coach for Birmingham Legion FC in 2023.
Martínez moved to the United States at the age of 9 years-old and played two seasons at High Point University in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from 2010 to 2011. There he appeared in 42 matches, scoring two goals and recording four assists before being recruited to play for NC State University in 2012. In Martínez’s first year with NC State, he scored 10 goals and recorded 11 assists on his way to First Team All-ACC. The following year, Martínez appeared in 17 matches, scoring two goals and recording eight assists on his way to finishing second in the ACC in assists. In two seasons, Martínez scored 12 goals and recorded 19 assists for the Wolfpack before entering the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.
