Ariel Martínez (Cuban footballer)
{{short description|Cuban footballer (born 1986)}}
{{distinguish|Ariel Martínez (Chilean footballer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ariel Martínez
| fullname = Ariel Pedro Martínez González
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|5|9|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Sancti Spíritus, Cuba
| height = {{height|m=1.76}}
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| position = Striker
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2005–2015
| clubs1 = Sancti Spíritus
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = Charleston Battery
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2016–2019
| clubs3 = Miami FC
| caps3 = 72
| goals3 = 15
| years4 = 2020
| clubs4 = FC Tulsa
| caps4 = 15
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2021
| clubs5 = Miami FC
| caps5 = 29
| goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2022
| clubs6 = Hartford Athletic
| caps6 = 22
| goals6 = 9
| years7 = 2023
| clubs7 = Tampa Bay Rowdies
| caps7 = 20
| goals7 = 2
| years8 =
| clubs8 =
| caps8 =
| goals8 =
| nationalyears1 = 2006–2015
| nationalteam1 = Cuba
| nationalcaps1 = 54
| nationalgoals1 = 11
| manageryears1 = 2024
| managerclubs1 = Miami FC (assistant)
| club-update = 20 March 2025
| ntupdate = 19 July 2015
}}
{{family name hatnote|Martinez|González|lang=Spanish}}
Ariel Pedro Martinez González (born 9 May 1986) is a Cuban footballer.
Club career
Following his defection from Cuba to the United States in July 2015, Martínez signed with United Soccer League club Charleston Battery,{{cite web|url=http://abcnews4.com/news/local/battery-sign-cuban-star-striker-and-defector-ariel-martinez|title=Battery sign Cuban star striker – and defector – Ariel Martinez|publisher=ABC|date=23 September 2015|accessdate=1 January 2018}} but was not cleared to play until late in the season due to issues with the processing of his documentation and work permit. Martínez made his only appearance for Charleston in a playoff loss to Louisville City before leaving the club at the end of 2015.
In March 2016, Martínez signed for North American Soccer League side Miami FC ahead of its inaugural season.{{cite web|title=CUBAN NATIONAL ARIEL MARTINEZ JOINS MIAMI FC ROSTER|url=http://www.miamifc.com/news/2016/03/12/cuban-national-ariel-martinez-completes-miami-fc-roster|website=miamifc.com|publisher=Miami FC|accessdate=16 March 2016|date=12 March 2016|archive-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925220023/http://www.miamifc.com/news/2016/03/12/cuban-national-ariel-martinez-completes-miami-fc-roster|url-status=dead}}
Martínez made the move to USL Championship side FC Tulsa on 18 December 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.fctulsa.com/news_article/show/1072161|title=FC Tulsa Signs Two Former Cuba National Team Forwards|website=fctulsa.com|publisher=FC Tulsa|date=17 December 2019|accessdate=26 March 2020|archive-date=17 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117233733/https://www.fctulsa.com/news_article/show/1072161|url-status=dead}}
On 19 January 2021, Miami, now competing in the USL Championship, announced Martínez had re-signed with the team for the 2021 season.{{cite web |last1=Communications |first1=Miami FC |title=Miami FC Announce Return of Attacking Threat Ariel Martinez |url=https://www.miamifc.com/news_article/show/1141406 |website=Miami FC |access-date=19 January 2021 |language=en-us |date=19 January 2021 |archive-date=17 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117233730/https://www.miamifc.com/news_article/show/1141406 |url-status=dead }}
On 19 April, 2022, Hartford Athletic announced that they had signed Martínez for the remainder of the 2022 season, pending league and federation approval. {{cite web |last1=Communications |first1=Hartford Athletic |title=Hartford Athletic Sign Cuban Striker Ariel Martínez |url=https://www.hartfordathletic.com/news/2022/04/19/hartford-athletic-sign-cuban-striker-ariel-martinez |website=Hartford Athletic |access-date=19 April 2022 |language=en-us |date=19 April 2022}}
Martínez signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies on 19 January 2023.{{cite web |title=Rowdies Boost Attack with Veteran Ariel Martinez |url=https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news/2023/01/19/rowdies-boost-attack-with-veteran-ariel-martinez/ |website=RowdiesSoccer.com |publisher=Tampa Bay Rowdies |access-date=19 January 2023}} Martínez was released by the Rowdies at the end of the 2023 season.{{cite web |title=Rowdies Announce Roster Update |url=https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news/2023/11/07/rowdies-announce-roster-update/ |website=RowdiesSoccer.com |publisher=Tampa Bay Rowdies |access-date=8 November 2023}}
Martínez announced his retirement from the professional game on 15 January 2024.{{cite web |last1=Martínez |first1=Ariel |title="Hoy le doy gracias al futbol por todo lo que me dió. Le agradezco a todos los compañeros que conocí en mi trayectoria en el deporte y a todas las instituciones por las que pasé. Siempre estare eternamente agradecido!" |url=https://twitter.com/arielmg580/status/1746968663469527171 |website=Twitter.com |publisher=Ariel Martínez |access-date=15 January 2024}}
International career
Martínez made his debut for Cuba in a September 2006 Gold Cup qualification match against the Turks and Caicos Islands. He was a squad member at the 2007 Gold Cup Finals.[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/07gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2007 – Full Details] – RSSSF He has earned a total of 54 caps, scoring 11 goals,{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/cuba-recintlp.html|website=RSSSF|title=Appearances for Cuba National Team}} represented his country in 7 FIFA World Cup qualification matches{{FIFA player|277383}} and played at 3 CONCACAF Gold Cup final tournaments.
On 17 July 2015, it was confirmed that Martinez had, alongside teammates Keyler García, Arael Argüelles and Darío Suárez, defected to the United States following Cuba's victory over Guatemala in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.{{cite news|author=MLSsoccer Staff|title=Gold Cup: Striker Ariel Martinez becomes the fourth player to defect from Cuba|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/goldcup/2015/news/article/2015/07/17/gold-cup-striker-ariel-martinez-becomes-fourth-player-defect-cuba|website=MLSsoccer.com|access-date=17 July 2015}}
Coaching career
In February 2024, Martínez returned to Miami FC as a member of Antonio Nocerino's technical staff.{{cite web |title=Miami FC adds former club star Ariel Martínez to 2024 Technical Staff |url=https://www.miamifc.com/news/2024/02/05/miami-fc-adds-former-club-star-ariel-martinez-to-2024-technical-staff/ |website=MiamiFC.com |publisher=Miami FC |access-date=20 March 2025}}
Statistics
=Career=
{{updated|10 October 2020.}}{{soccerway|ariel-martinez/10137}}{{cite web |title=Miami FC 2 2018 Match Reports |url=http://npsl.bonzidev.com/sam/standings/ss/schedule.php?v=3&containerID=NjI0MzQzMg== |website=npsl.bonzidev.com |access-date=19 January 2021}}{{cite web |title=Miami FC 2019 Match Reports |url=http://npsl.bonzidev.com/sam/standings/ss/schedule.php?containerID=MTAwODUzMDA=&v=3 |website=npsl.bonzidev.com |access-date=19 January 2021 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809052939/http://npsl.bonzidev.com/sam/standings/ss/schedule.php?v=3&containerID=MTAwODUzMDA= |url-status=dead }}
{{notelist}}
=International goals=
:Scores and results list Cuba's goal tally first.{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/1340/Ariel_Martinez.html|title=Martínez, Ariel|publisher=National Football Teams|accessdate=November 30, 2017}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| 1. | 4 September 2006 | rowspan=3| Estadio Pedro Marrero, La Habana, Cuba | {{fb|BAH}} | {{center|4–0}} | {{center|6–0}} | rowspan=3| 2007 Caribbean Cup qualification |
| 2. | rowspan=2|6 September 2006 | rowspan=2| {{fb|CAY}} | {{center|5–0}} | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | 7–0 | ||
| 3. | {{center|4–0}} | |||||
| 4. | 14 November 2012 | Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Trinidad and Tobago | {{fb|SUR}} | {{center|3–0}} | {{center|5–0}} | 2012 Caribbean Cup qualification |
| 5. | rowspan=2|10 December 2012 | rowspan=2|Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda | rowspan="2" |{{fb|GYF|local}} | {{center|1–0}} | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | 2–0 | rowspan=2|2012 Caribbean Cup |
| 6. | {{center|2–0}} | |||||
| 7. | rowspan=3|16 July 2013 | rowspan=3|Rentschler Field, East Hartford, United States | rowspan=3|{{fb|BLZ}} | {{center|1–0}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | 4–0 | rowspan=3|2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 8. | {{center|2–0 }} | |||||
| 9. | {{center|3–0}} | |||||
| 10. | 11 November 2014 | rowspan=2| Montego Bay Sports Complex, Montego Bay, Jamaica | {{fb|GYF|local}} | {{center|1–0}} | {{center|1–1}} | rowspan=2| 2014 Caribbean Cup |
| 11. | 18 November 2014 | {{fb|HAI}} | {{center|1–2}} | {{center|1–2}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Navboxes colour
|title=Cuba squads
|bg = #cf142b
|fg = White
|bordercolor =#e6a642
|list1=
{{Cuba squad 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Cuba squad 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Cuba squad 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martinez, Ariel}}
Category:Sportspeople from Sancti Spíritus
Category:Defecting Cuban footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Cuban men's footballers
Category:Cuba men's international footballers
Category:2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:FC Sancti Spíritus players
Category:Charleston Battery players
Category:Hartford Athletic players
Category:Tampa Bay Rowdies players
Category:North American Soccer League (2011–2017) players
Category:National Independent Soccer Association players
Category:Cuban expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:Cuban expatriate sportspeople in the United States