Collin Martin
Collin Martin (born November 9, 1994) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for San Diego Loyal in the USL Championship. He has played for D.C. United and Minnesota United FC in Major League Soccer, and for Richmond Kickers and Hartford Athletic in the United Soccer League. He came out as gay in June 2018, making him at the time the only out man in any of the big five American sports leagues or any top-division professional men's national soccer league.[1]
 Martin with the Richmond Kickers in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | November 9, 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Playing position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | San Diego Loyal | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2012 | D.C. United | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 20 | (1) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | D.C. United | 15 | (0) |
| 2013−2015 | → Richmond Kickers (loan) | 14 | (1) |
| 2017–2019 | Minnesota United | 26 | (0) |
| 2019 | → Hartford Athletic (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2020– | San Diego Loyal | 0 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2012–2013 | United States U20 | 5 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 15, 2019 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of April 25, 2014 | |||
Career
Youth and College
Born in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Martin joined the D.C. United Academy during the 2009–10 season as a 14-year-old in the under-16 category.[2] In his second season with the u16s, Martin led the team in scoring with 13 goals while leading the side to finish top of its group in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.[2] Then, the next season, Martin was promoted to the under-18s where he led the team in scoring with 11 goals. He impressed the coaching staff enough that season to earn playing time with the D.C. United Reserves in MLS Reserve League action.[2]
Martin then choose to attend Wake Forest University where he would play for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons soccer team for the 2012 season in which he scored one goal and registered six assists.[2] At the end of the season, Martin earned All-ACC Freshman Team honors.[2]
D.C. United
On July 10, 2013 it was announced that Martin had signed on as a homegrown player with D.C. United of Major League Soccer, thus becoming the team's sixth homegrown signing.[2] After a short loan spell at the Richmond Kickers in the USL Pro, Martin made his debut for D.C. United on August 3, 2013 against the Montreal Impact in which he came on in the 76th minute for Nick DeLeon as United won the game 3–1.[3] He finished the 2013 season with seven league appearances.[4]
Richmond Kickers (loan)
On July 17, 2013 it was announced that D.C. United had sent Martin out on loan to their USL Pro affiliate, the Richmond Kickers.[5] He made his one and only appearance[6] for the Kickers on July 23 against the Vancouver Whitecaps Reserves in which he started and played 85 minutes as the Kickers won the match 2–1.[7]
On September 13, 2014 he scored his first professional goal to open a 2–1 win over the Charleston Battery in the playoff quarter-finals.[8]
Minnesota United FC
In January 2017, Martin was traded by D.C. to MLS expansion side Minnesota United FC in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.[9] He made his debut on March 25 in a 5–2 loss at the New England Revolution, as a 63rd-minute substitute for Mohammed Saeid.[10]
Martin played 12 matches in his first season in Minnesota, five as a starter. Having taken no part in the 2019 season, he was loaned in late April to USL Championship team Hartford Athletic.[11]
In October 2019, at the end of Minnesota's season, Martin was one of five players released.[12]
San Diego Loyal SC
In February 2020, Martin was signed by San Diego Loyal for its inaugural season.[13]
Personal life
Martin was raised in an observant Episcopalian family.[14]
On June 29, 2018, Martin came out publicly as gay.[15][16] He was reported at the time to be the only active male professional soccer player to be openly gay.[16]
Martin transferred his credits from Wake Forest University to George Washington University after joining D.C. United. He attended part-time for four years, and online for a fifth from Minnesota, before graduating in 2019 with a degree in history. His thesis was on the Battle of Vicksburg in the American Civil War.[14]
Career statistics
- As of matches played on July 18, 2018.
| Club | Season | League | U.S. Open Cup | Champions League | Total | Ref. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| D.C. United | 2013 | MLS | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | [4] | |
| 2014 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | [4] | ||
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | [4] | ||
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | [4] | |||
| Totals | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 23 | 0 | — | ||
| Richmond Kickers (loan) | 2013 | USL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | [6] | |
| 2014 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | [6] | ||||
| 2015 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | [6] | ||||
| Totals | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 1 | — | |||
| Minnesota United | 2017 | MLS | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | [4] | |
| 2018 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | [4] | ||||
| Totals | 23 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 26 | 0 | — | |||
| Hartford Athletic (loan) | 2019 | USL Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career totals | 52 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 59 | 1 | — | ||
References
- "Minnesota United player Collin Martin comes out publicly as gay". Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- "D.C. United signs Homegrown midfielder Collin Martin". DC United. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
- "D.C. United 3 - 1 Montreal Impact". Major League Soccer. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
- "Collin Martin » Club matches". World Football. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- "Collin Martin loaned to Richmond". DC United. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
- Collin Martin at Soccerway
- "WHITECAPS RES. VS. RICHMOND KICKERS 1 - 2". Soccerway. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
- "Delicate's late magic lifts Kickers into semifinals". Richmond.com. September 13, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- "MNUFC Adds Collin Martin". Minnesota United FC. January 3, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- "Recap: Revolution win home opener vs. Minnesota United FC, 5-2". New England Revolution. March 25, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- Zgoda, Jerry (April 22, 2019). "Down two suspended players for Wednesday's game, Minnesota United awaits Ike Opara's return". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
- "MNUFC Declines Contract Options for 2020 Season". Minnesota United FC. October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- "San Diego Loyal SC Adds Even More Midfield Strength with Three New Signings". soccernation.com. February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- Goldstein, Steve (March 18, 2019). "Bethesda Interview: Collin Martin". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
- Hartley, Eve (June 29, 2018). "Professional football player Collin Martin comes out as gay during pride month". Pink News. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- "Minnesota United's Collin Martin comes out as gay". ESPN. June 29, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Collin Martin. |
- Collin Martin at Major League Soccer
- Collin Martin at Soccerway