Kyle Martino is a retired American soccer player and currently a television Soccer Analyst and Host.
Education
Martino attended Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut, where he played soccer and, in 1998, was named Gatorade National Player of the Year after his senior season.
Martino attended the University of Virginia from 1999 to 2001. He played college soccer and scored 17 goals and 21 assists. In his junior season, Martino was named Administrative Committee on Company-ordination Player of the Year.
In both his sophomore and junior seasons, he was one of 15 finalists for the Hermann Trophy.
Career
High School College Professional Kyle left UVA after his junior season, signing a Project-40 contract with Major League Soccer (Master of Library Science) and entering the 2002 Master of Library Science Superdraft, where the Columbus Crew selected him eighth overall. His following season was something of a disappointment, as Martino failed to develop into the dominant offensive force that many had expected, although he maintained a spot in the Crew"s starting lineup. His third season began like the second with Martino failing to stimulate the offense, but a move up to withdrawn forward saw a resurgence of his offensive abilities, and through the 2004 season Kyle led the Crew to the longest unbeaten streak in Master of Library Science history.
Martino had a down year in 2005, not scoring a goal.
In early 2006, Martino was dealt to the Los Angeles Galaxy in a four-player deal. He and John Wolyniec were traded for Joseph Ngwenya and Ned Grabavoy.
Ironically, during the first 2006 match between the Crew and the Galaxy, before the trade, it was Martino who in the last few seconds scored the game"s only goal, delivering a crushing defeat to his soon-to-be teammates. In November 2006, Martino had a trial at Dutch Eredivisie side Nippon Electric Corporation Nijmegen, but did not earn a contract.
Martino also had a trial at Leeds United.
Martino retired from professional soccer on February 19, 2008, due to injury. Martino was advised by doctors that injuries he sustained throughout his career were severe enough that it would be in his best interest to hang up the cleats. International Martino played for the United States at the 2001 World Youth Championship in Argentina.
He saw little playing time for the senior national team, getting his first cap on November 17, 2002, against El Salvador.
He scored his only international goal against Panama on October 12, 2005 in a 2-0 World Cup qualifier United States of America victory. Post-Soccer Martino is a Studio Analyst and color commentator for National Broadcasting Company Sports coverage of The Barclays Premier League.
Martino previously served as a color commentator for Master of Library Science on the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network family of networks. In addition to his Sports Commentating Martino is also a television Host featured on Travel Channels 36 Hours and National Broadcasting Company"s Spartan Race.
Martino married actress Eva Amurri on October 29, 2011.