Collin Martin

Collin Martin (born November 9, 1994) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for San Diego Loyal in the USL Championship. He has played for D.C. United and Minnesota United FC[1] in Major League Soccer, and for Richmond Kickers and Hartford Athletic in the United Soccer League. He came out as gay in June 2018,[2] making him at the time the only out man in any of the big five American sports leagues or any top-division professional men's national soccer leagues.[3]

Collin Martin
Martin with Richmond Kickers in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-11-09) November 9, 1994
Place of birth Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 San Diego Loyal
Number 17
Youth career
2009–2012 D.C. United
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 20 (1)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 D.C. United 15 (0)
2013−2015 → Richmond Kickers (loan) 14 (1)
2017–2019 Minnesota United 26 (0)
2019 → Hartford Athletic (loan) 7 (0)
2020– San Diego Loyal 71 (3)
International career‡
2012–2013 United States U20 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 21, 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of April 25, 2014

Youth and College soccer

Born in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Martin joined the D.C. United Academy during the 2009–10 season as a 14-year-old in the under-16 category.[4] In his second season with the U16s, Martin led the team in scoring with 13 goals while leading the side to finish top of its group in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.[4] Then, the next season, Martin was promoted to the under-18s where he led the team in scoring with 11 goals. He impressed the coaching staff enough that season to earn playing time with the D.C. United Reserves in MLS Reserve League action.[4]

Martin then attended Wake Forest University where he played for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons soccer team for the 2012 season in which he scored one goal and registered six assists.[4] At the end of the season, Martin earned All-ACC Freshman Team honors.[4]

Professional career

D.C. United

On July 10, 2013, it was announced that Martin had signed on as a homegrown player with D.C. United of Major League Soccer, thus becoming the team's sixth homegrown signing.[4] After a short loan spell at the Richmond Kickers in the USL Pro, Martin made his debut for D.C. United on August 3, 2013, against the Montreal Impact in which he came on in the 76th minute for Nick DeLeon as United won the game 3–1.[5] He finished the 2013 season with seven league appearances.[6]

Richmond Kickers (loan)

On July 17, 2013, it was announced that D.C. United had sent Martin out on loan to their USL Pro affiliate, the Richmond Kickers.[7] He made his one and only appearance[8] for the Kickers on July 23 against the Vancouver Whitecaps Reserves in which he started and played 85 minutes as the Kickers won the match 2–1.[9]

On September 13, 2014, he scored his first professional goal to open a 2–1 win over the Charleston Battery in the playoff quarter-finals.[10]

Minnesota United

In January 2017, Martin was traded by D.C. to MLS expansion side Minnesota United FC in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.[11] He made his debut on March 25 in a 5–2 loss at the New England Revolution, as a 63rd-minute substitute for Mohammed Saeid.[12]

Martin played 12 matches in his first season in Minnesota, five as a starter. Having taken no part in the 2019 season, he was loaned in late April to USL Championship team Hartford Athletic.[13] In October 2019, at the end of Minnesota's season, Martin was one of five players released.[14]

San Diego Loyal

In February 2020, Martin was signed by San Diego Loyal for its inaugural season.[15][16] He made his debut on March 11 in a 2–1 win at Tacoma Defiance, assisting the opener by Francis Atuahene via a free kick,[17] and scored his first goal on September 2 to open a 1–1 tie at Las Vegas Lights FC.[18]

During a home match against Phoenix Rising FC on September 30, 2020, Martin was the target of a homophobic slur by Phoenix midfielder Junior Flemmings during first-half stoppage time. Flemmings called him a "batty boy", a homophobic slur in his native Jamaica.[19] After he went to the referee to report the incident, Martin was shown a red card that was later rescinded after the referee admitted he was confused. After Phoenix manager Rick Schantz declined to apologize and remove Flemmings, San Diego walked off the field and forfeited the match in protest.[20][21] A week earlier, the Loyal had forfeited a match against the LA Galaxy II after a racial slur was used against one of their players.[21][22] Flemmings was banned for six games and fined an undisclosed amount.[23]

On May 7, 2022, Martin came on as a half-time substitute at New Mexico United with his team winning. He was sent off for his second yellow card in the 79th minute, and the hosts scored for a 1–1 tie in added time.[24]

International career

Martin has represented the United States at U-14, U-15, U-17, and U-20 levels.[4]

Personal life

Martin was raised in an observant Episcopalian family.[25]

On June 29, 2018, Martin came out publicly as gay.[26][2] He was reported at the time to be the only active male professional soccer player to be openly gay.[2][27][28]

Martin transferred his credits from Wake Forest University to George Washington University after joining D.C. United. He attended part-time for four years, and online for a fifth from Minnesota, before graduating in 2019 with a degree in history.[25][29]

Career statistics
As of matches played on January 18, 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueU.S. Open CupChampions LeagueTotalRef.
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
D.C. United2013MLS7000—70[6]
2014601030100[6]
201500004040[6]
20162000—20[6]
Total1501070230—
Richmond Kickers (loan)2013USL1000—10[8]
20146100—61[8]
20157000—70[8]
Total1410000141—
Minnesota United2017MLS11010—120[6]
201812020—140[6]
20193000—30[6]
Total2603000290—
Hartford Athletic (loan) 2019 USL Championship 7000–70
Career total6214070661—

References
  1. "Collin Martin | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC. Archived from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  2. "Minnesota United's Collin Martin comes out as gay". ESPN. June 29, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  3. "Minnesota United player Collin Martin comes out publicly as gay". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  4. "D.C. United signs Homegrown midfielder Collin Martin". DC United. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  5. "D.C. United 3 - 1 Montreal Impact". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on 2013-08-06. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  6. "Collin Martin » Club matches". World Football. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  7. "Collin Martin loaned to Richmond". DC United. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  8. Collin Martin at Soccerway
  9. "WHITECAPS RES. VS. RICHMOND KICKERS 1 - 2". Soccerway. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  10. "Delicate's late magic lifts Kickers into semifinals". Richmond.com. September 13, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  11. "MNUFC Adds Collin Martin". Minnesota United FC. January 3, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  12. "Recap: Revolution win home opener vs. Minnesota United FC, 5-2". New England Revolution. March 25, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  13. Zgoda, Jerry (April 22, 2019). "Down two suspended players for Wednesday's game, Minnesota United awaits Ike Opara's return". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  14. "MNUFC Declines Contract Options for 2020 Season". Minnesota United FC. October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  15. "San Diego Loyal SC Adds Even More Midfield Strength with Three New Signings". soccernation.com. February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  16. Ennis, Dawn (2020-02-07). "Gay soccer player Collin Martin signs with San Diego Loyal SC". Outsports. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  17. "MATCH RECAP: Tacoma Defiance drops 2-1 decision to San Diego Loyal SC". Seattle Sounders FC. March 12, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  18. Spiering, Chris (September 3, 2020). "SD Loyal SC and Las Vegas Lights FC draw 1-1". East Village Times. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  19. Reid, Andrew (October 1, 2020). "'Abhorrent': Homophobic 'disgrace' rocks American match". Yahoo!. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  20. Bumbaca, Chris (October 1, 2020). "San Diego Loyal forfeits match after opposing player allegedly directed homophobic slur at Collin Martin". USA Today. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  21. "Soccer team forfeits match after alleged anti-gay slur". CBS News. Associated Press. October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  22. Ziegler, Mark (October 1, 2020). "San Diego, Phoenix soccer teams trade accusations, denials in alleged homophobic incident". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  23. Grez, Matias (October 7, 2020). "Footballer banned and fined for using homophobic slur towards opponent". CNN. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  24. Sickenger, Ken (May 7, 2022). "At long last: United finally scores, salvages draw with San Diego (with photo gallery)". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  25. Goldstein, Steve (March 18, 2019). "Bethesda Interview: Collin Martin". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  26. Hartley, Eve (June 29, 2018). "Professional football player Collin Martin comes out as gay during pride month". Pink News. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  27. "'I was ready to be more authentic': US footballer Collin Martin tells his coming out story". ESPN.com. 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  28. Reimer, Alex (2022-06-30). "Collin Martin says he had mixed feelings when his team forfeited a game after he was called an anti-gay slur". Outsports. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  29. Platt, Adam (2019-03-06). "The One and Only". Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
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