Saúl Martínez
Saúl Martínez is a former Honduran football forward known for his speed and skill on the field.
Martínez began his professional career with the Long Island Rough Riders before moving to Major League Soccer with Miami Fusion.
His international breakthrough came during the 2001 Copa América, where he scored in a historic win over Brazil.
Biography
Early Life
Saúl Asael Martínez Álvarez, known as "Speedy," was born in Colón, Honduras. He began his football journey at a young age, starting with the Honduran second division side Melgar before making his way to the United States to pursue a professional career.
Career
Martínez's professional career took off when he joined the Long Island Rough Riders in 1997. He quickly made a name for himself, moving to Major League Soccer with the Miami Fusion in 1999. His time in the MLS was marked by a significant debut in Liga Nacional with C.D. Olimpia in December 2000. In 2002, he caught the attention of Shanghai Shenhua after an impressive performance in the Lunar New Year Cup, where he scored four goals against Slovenia. He became a key player for Shenhua, winning the 2003 Chinese league title, although it was later revoked due to a match-fixing scandal. After several stints in various clubs, including a remarkable return from retirement with Club Deportivo Victoria in 2010, where he topped the goalscoring charts at age 34, Martínez retired in 2011 but returned to play for Miami United FC in 2013.
International Career
Martínez made his international debut for the Honduras national team in July 2001, scoring immediately in a friendly against Ecuador. Over his international career, he earned 35 caps and scored 16 goals, including a memorable performance during the 2001 Copa América, where he helped Honduras secure a historic win over Brazil. His final appearance for the national team came in January 2009 against Panama, marking the end of a significant chapter in his football journey.
Collected from open sources (2) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Career & Clubs
Nicknamed Speedy, Saúl Martínez was born in Colón, Honduras. He started his career at Honduran second division side Melgar before moving abroad to play for American outfit Long Island Rough Riders. He was assigned to Major League Soccer team Miami Fusion in 1999. His first game in Liga Nacional was on 10 December 2000 with Olimpia against Broncos.
China
Martínez first attracted the attentions of Shanghai Shenhua when he scored four goals against Slovenia during the Lunar New Year Cup in Hong Kong in early 2002. Shenhua quickly signed him and afterwards, Martinez became one of the most important players in the Shenhua team. He would end up playing in Asia for five years, winning the 2003 Chinese league title with Shanghai Shenhua; that title was however taken away from the club in 2013 due to its part in a match-fixing scandal. He also won the 2003 Golden Boot Award with Shanghai. In January 2008, Martínez joined Costa Rican side Herediano for three months after a move to F.C. Motagua did not materialise. He then had a couple of seasons at Marathón. He made a remarkable return from retirement with Victoria in the 2010 Apertura season, topping the goalscoring charts at age 34 and ending the season as runner-up behind Jerry Bengtson with 11 goals. In July 2011 he returned for another spell at Marathón. He retired from football at the end of 2011. In 2013, he returned to playing and joined compatriot Érick Vallecillo at newly formed Miami United of the National Premier…
Martínez made his debut for Honduras in a July 2001 friendly match against Ecuador, in which he immediately scored a goal, and has earned a total of 35 caps, scoring 16 goals. He has represented his country in 11 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played at the 2007 and 2009 UNCAF Nations Cups His international breakthrough however came during the 2001 Copa América, when Honduras surprisingly ended third and Martínez scored the second goal in the historic win over World Cup runners-up Brazil. His final international was a January 2009 UNCAF Nations Cup match against Panama.
- Club
- Club Nacional de Football (2001–2002)
- Club
- Long Island Rough Riders (1997–1998)
- Club
- Miami Fusion (1999–1999)
- Club
- Virginia Beach Mariners (1999–2000)
- Club
- C.D. Olimpia (2000–2000)
- Club
- F.C. Motagua (2001–2001)
- Club
- Shanghai Shenhua F.C. (2002–2005)
- Club
- RB Omiya Ardija (2006–2006)
- Club
- Shanghai United F.C. (2006–2007)
- Club
- F.C. Motagua (2007–2007)
- Club
- Shanghai Shenhua F.C. (2007–2007)
- Club
- C.S. Herediano (2008–2008)
- Club
- C.D. Marathón (2008–2010)
- Club
- Club Deportivo Victoria (2010–2011)
- Club
- C.D. Marathón (2011–2011)
- Club
- Miami United FC (2013–)
- Club
- Honduras men's national football team (2001–2009)
- League
- Major League Soccer
- National team
- Honduras
Legacy
Nacional Montevideo
Uruguayan Primera División: 2001, 2002 Shanghai Shenhua
Chinese Jia-A League: 2003 (revoked due to match-fixing scandal) C.D. Marathón
Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras: 2008–09 (Apertura)
Clubs
- Miami United FC2013current
- Long Island Rough Riders1997–1998
- Miami Fusion1999–1999
- Virginia Beach Mariners1999–2000
- C.D. Olimpia2000–2000
- Club Nacional de Football2001–2002
- F.C. Motagua2001–2001
- Honduras men's national football team2001–2009
- Shanghai Shenhua F.C.2002–2005
- RB Omiya Ardija2006–2006
- Shanghai United F.C.2006–2007
- F.C. Motagua2007–2007
- Shanghai Shenhua F.C.2007–2007
- C.D. Marathón2008–2010
- C.S. Herediano2008–2008
- Club Deportivo Victoria2010–2011
- C.D. Marathón2011–2011
Played together with
Abdón PorteClub Nacional de Football · 1911–1918- Adalto Batista da SilvaClub Nacional de Football · 1999–2001
Adolfo MachadoC.D. Marathón · 2010–2010
Adrian MierzejewskiShanghai Shenhua F.C. · 2021–2021
Adrián Seba ReyClub Nacional de Football · 2012–2013
Agustín RogelClub Nacional de Football
Akihiro IenagaRB Omiya Ardija · 2014- Akihiro KamedaRB Omiya Ardija
- Akinari KawazuraRB Omiya Ardija
- Akinori KosakaRB Omiya Ardija · 1998–2002
- Akira IshigameRB Omiya Ardija · 2004–2008
- Akira ItoRB Omiya Ardija · 2002–2003
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Saúl Asael Martínez Álvarez is a Honduran former football forward who last played for Marathón.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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