HUNTING FOR HEALTH Martino hopes for return of health, form
By Luis Bueno and Andrea Canales LASoccerNews.com
Kyle Martino is trying to regain his form and land a starting spot with the Galaxy. Photo by Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
CARSON, Calif. – Perhaps it wasn’t the right time for Kyle Martino to test his fate abroad. Injuries had ravaged him for the better part of two seasons and he admitted he wasn’t in the best physical condition.
Still, Europe had always been in Martino’s mind. So when opportunity rang, he answered.
“It went well, but I was still trying to recover from the injuries,” said Martino, who has been plagued by hip injuries since 2005. “It wasn’t the most ideal time to give it a shot, but at least I went after it. I won’t have to look back after a long career and say that I never went after my dream of playing in Europe. I gave it a shot and it didn’t work out.”
Martino’s failure to secure a contract in the Old World, however, led him right back to where he wanted to be all along. A former standout with the Columbus Crew, Martino was part of four-player deal last May that took him from an unhappy situation with Columbus to the Galaxy.
His interest in going overseas did not damage his standing with the club, he said.
“When I decided that the Galaxy was the home for me and wanted to come back, they were really helpful and really great with accepting me back here,” Martino said. “We both came to the realization that my home is here and this is the place where I want to continue my career.”
Martino is hoping to regain the form that led him to several appearances with the U.S. national team as well as early success in Columbus. Martino was essentially lost for the season in August of last year when hip problems resurfaced, the effects of which he is still feeling.
“It’s been a really tough past year and a half with two surgeries in a little over a year,” Martino said. “I feel great. It’s about time that I’ve gotten back on track to where I was headed before I got hurt. The organization has been behind me and has done a great job to try and get me back fit and get me back feeling good. I think I’m back to where I was before I got derailed from the injuries.”
That the organization has supported him speaks well of coach Frank Yallop and general manager Alexi Lalas, Martino said.
“I was there with kind of the blessing of the organization. They told me ‘Every player wants to try their luck overseas,’” Martino said. “I was out of contract. That was my opportunity to give it a shot. I stayed in communication with them the entire time.”
Martino had trials with Dutch side NEC Nijmegen and English outfit Leeds United, but neither resulted in a contract offer. Disenchanted, he soon found out he was still wanted by Galaxy brass.
“I rolled the dice a little bit and luckily the organization was understanding,” Martino said. “Between Frank and Alexi, there’s a great relationship that we’ve established. They understood that I wanted to go for it. They weren’t exactly excited about it, but when I wanted to come back they said ‘This is your home. Welcome back.’”
With Europe out of his mind, Martino said he would focus on earning a spot on the Galaxy. Still, Martino could face a tough challenge even if he does regain his strength and form. The Galaxy have a potential glut at midfield with Peter Vagenas, Santino Quaranta, Quavas Kirk, Cobi Jones and Nathan Sturgis providing several options for Yallop.
With the potential interest in the Galaxy because of David Beckham’s impending arrival, Martino might indeed have the opportunity to catch another European club’s attention. Still, his health and helping the Galaxy succeed come first.
“My main objective is getting 100 percent fit, getting back to where I was a couple of years ago, getting on the field with the Galaxy and winning a championship with them,” Martino said. “If all of those things take place, maybe something shows up, maybe something doesn’t. But for right now, my main focus is with this team and this is my home and where I’m excited to play."
Still, there is one other jersey Martino hopes to wear.
“One of my own objectives is to get back into the U.S. team. Before injuries, I was knocking on the door,” Martino said. “I want to be back there. I want to be knocking on that door. I want to be in those Gold Cup games. Maybe it’s a little bit selfish but I’m thinking to myself ‘I want to play for my country first and foremost.’”
Success at the club level is essential, but if that happens Martino said he could fancy himself playing for the U.S.
“If I play good for the Galaxy, if I regain my form and play every game, and do well, all those opportunities will be there,” Martino said. “I was thinking more about that than thinking I’d get a chance to play when the U.S. guys leave. I want to be one of those U.S. guys leaving.”
First things, though, come first.
“Right now, it’s just getting fit, just getting back in form. Frank is the type of coach that if you’re fit and you’re playing well, you’re in his side. I need to make sure that I’m in his favor and that I give him all the excuses and all the reasons to put me on the field. With this team that we have, it’s going to be really easy to shine if you’re on the field with the type of caliber players that we have. My first goal is just to get on the field and let the chips fall where they may.”
