The Swope Park Rangers announced today that the club has added former MLS defender Chris Martinez as an assistant coach ahead of the 2018 season.
Martinez’s addition rounds out head coach Paulo Nagamura’s technical staff, joining goalkeeper coach Gavin McInerney and fitness coach James Collins – who steps up from his role with the Sporting KC Academy. Joey Harty, who served as the team's fitness coach in 2017, will assist Mateus Manoel with the Sporting KC first team moving forward.
Martinez heads to Kansas City from the Colorado Rapids, where he most recently held the title of Development Academy Program Director. In addition, Martinez also coached the Rapids Under-18 squad after being appointed in August 2016 before becoming the head coach of the Under-19 team in 2017.
Martinez went on to coach the club’s USL Premier Development League U-23 side last year, while he also had experience coaching with the U.S. Under-15 National Team in 2017 – a group that included Sporting KC Homegrown player Gianluca Busio.
Prior to joining the Rapids Academy, Martinez was the Director of Player Development at U.S. Soccer Development Academy club Real Colorado. In 2015, Martinez was named USSDA U-15/16 Coach of the Year for the Central Conference.
The 47-year-old former defender enjoyed a stellar playing career for the Colorado Rapids, making 119 appearances in MLS play, recording nine assists in five seasons. Notably, Martinez played alongside Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes for three seasons from 1997-1999 before Vermes joined the Kansas City Wizards in 2000.
The duo helped the Rapids reach the MLS Cup Final in 1997 and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final in 1999, while Martinez was named Rapids Defender of the Year in 2001.
Born and raised in Colorado, Martinez played collegiate soccer at Clemson University from 1989-1992 before joining American Professional Soccer League side the Colorado Foxes in 1993, winning the APSL title in his first season.
The following year, Martinez headed to Kansas to play indoor soccer with the Wichita Wings, who played in the National Professional Soccer League, and was named to the NPSL All-Rookie team in 1994.
