Martin Cohen (soccer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Martin Cohen

| image =

| fullname = Martin Cohen

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|2|3|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Johannesburg, South Africa

| death_date =

| height =

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1970–1977

| years2 = 1977

| years3 = 1978–1979

| years4 = 1979

| years5 = 1980–1982

| years6 = 1983–1984

| clubs1 = Highlands Park

| clubs2 = Los Angeles Aztecs

| clubs3 = Highlands Park

| clubs4 = California Surf

| clubs5 = Highlands Park

| clubs6 = Wits University

| caps1 =

| caps2 = 21

| caps3 =

| caps4 = 23

| caps5 =

| caps6 =

| goals1 =

| goals2 = 0

| goals3 =

| goals4 = 0

| goals5 =

| goals6 =

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

}}

Martin Cohen (born 3 February 1952) is a South African former professional association footballer who played for the Los Angeles Aztecs.

Playing career

Cohen was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is Jewish.{{Cite news |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/sunday-world-8839/20141214/281981785928409 |title=! (Exclamation mark) |date=14 Dec 2014 |via=PressReader}}http://docshare04.docshare.tips/files/7963/79633183.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sajr.co.za/news-and-articles/2019/09/05/where-have-south-african-jewish-sporting-heroes-gone|title=Where have South African Jewish sporting heroes gone?|website=South African Jewish Report}} He was a starter for Highlands Park during the apartheid era of soccer in South Africa. He had trained with this club since the age of 10.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/335002224/|title=Aztecs sign Martin Cohen|publisher=Tampa Tribune|date=25 December 1976}} On 20 April 1974, Cohen was part of the White XI that played their black counterparts in a racially charged match at Rand Stadium. After initially going down 1-0 to the black side (the goal was called off-side by referee Wally Turner), Cohen scored a crucial goal before Neil Roberts put the game away.{{cite news |first=Doug |last=Cress |title=Color Bind |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-03-sp-47404-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=2000-07-03 |access-date=27 September 2009 }}

In 1975, Cohen won the South Africa's player of the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/383597091/|title=Aztecs Face Seattle Test Today|date=21 August 1977|first=Shav|last=Glick|work=Los Angeles Times|page=III.11}}

In December 1976 he signed with the Los Angeles Aztecs. He scored his first two goals in the first leg of the second round of the NASL playoffs against the Dallas Tornado as the Aztecs won 3-1.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/213466571/|title=...while Los Angeles battles|publisher=Fort Myers News-Press|date=16 August 1977}} He played with the California Surf in 1979.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/386332672/|title=Surf plays Moscow team tonight in Anaheim|work=Los Angeles Times|date=23 February 1979}}

His son, Larry Cohen, is also a footballer.