Enzo Martinez

A first-round pick in in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, Martinez will be looking to make his professional debut in 2013 after failing to see the field during his rookie season. Things look good on that end so far – Martinez did relatively well during the 2013 preseason, showing well in several matches at the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup.

After spending parts of 2012 training at outside midfield and right back, the University of North Carolina product seems to have finally found a home at defensive midfielder. Expect the Generation adidas player to challenge Yordany Alvarez for minutes behind Claret-and-Cobalt captain Kyle Beckerman at the position in 2013.

Acquired

RSL: Selected in the first round (17^th overall) of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 12, 2012

Professional Career

2012: Did not see any first-team action for Real Salt Lake … Made the gameday roster for RSL’s final regular season game of the year, at home against Vancouver on Oct. 27

College

2009-11: One of nine members of the 2012 Generation adidas class … Finished his three-year career at the University of North Carolina with 22 goals and 20 assists in 72 games played … Named a NSCAA First Team All-American and to Soccer America’s MVP’s Second Team after helping lead top-seeded North Carolina to the 2011 College Cup title following his junior season … Played all but 6 minutes of UNC’s five-game run to the championship, earning a spot on the 2011 College Cup All-Tournament Team in the process … Helped the Tar Heels kick off the tournament on 11/20/11 by scoring the game-winner (69’) in a 3-2 victory over Coastal Carolina in the Second Round … His 85^th minute shot-turned-assist on 12/09 v. UCLA equalized the National Semifinal showdown, which UNC would emerge from in PKs … Named a NSCAA Third Team All-American and to the All-Atlantic Conference Second Team as a sophomore in 2010 after leading Tar Heels in goals (10) and assists (5) … An ACC All-Freshman Team honoree in 2009 after appearing in 22 of UNC’s 24 games and helping the squad to the College Cup Semifinals, where the Heels fell in PK’s to eventual champion Akron …

High School/Club

Played club soccer for Discoveries Soccer Club out of Rock Hill, SC, where he was a teammate of fellow 2012 RSL draft pick Sebastian Velasquez.

Personal

Had a daughter with his fiancée Holly late in the 2012 season … While in college, he and his fiancée – then dating – founded “Kicking for a Cause,” a charitable cause that raises money for local organizations and families in need in his hometown of Rock Hill, S.C. … Bilingual speaker is fluent in both English and Spanish … Uncle, Miguel Beltran, played for Nacional, a powerhouse in his native Uruguay … Moved to the United States from Uruguay at the age of 10