team roster 2005 season stats GP Goals Assists 12 2 1 name: Antonio Martinez position: M height: 5-7 weight:140 Birthdate: July 09, 1977 Hometown: Carson, CA last club: Necaxa (Mexico)

A quick-footed midfielder with good ball control, Martínez returns to the United States for his fifth MLS season after splitting 2004 between Salamanca of the Spanish Second Division and Necaxa of the Mexican First Division.

The Yahualica, Jalisco native made his MLS debut in 2000 with the then-Dallas Burn, where in three and-a-half seasons he played 68 games (starting 37) and registering 7 goals and 23 assists.

In July 2003, Martínez was transferred to Los Angeles in a five-player trade involving current Chivas USA teammates Ezra Hendrickson and Ryan Suárez.

With the Galaxy, he played 4 games, starting 3 and registering 1 goal. After spending the remainder of the European 2003-04 season with Salamanca, he returned to his native Mexico to play with Necaxa, where he spent the Apertura 2004 tournament.

Nicknamed 'Chiva', Martínez moved from Jalisco to Southern California at age 15. After a standout soccer career at Carson High School, he went on to play for local university Cal-State Fullerton.

The second child of Antonio and Elvia Martínez, Antonio has two sisters and one brother. He currently resides in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, with his wife, Alexis.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

Chivas: Means everything to me. Ever since I was a kid, my nickname has been 'Chiva'; my first soccer match was at the Estadio Jalisco, Chivas vs. Pumas. My dad brought me and from then on, my Christmas gifts were Chivas balls, Chivas shirts, etc.

Idol: Benjamín Galindo. For his ball control, it was though he put defenders to sleep with his moves; plus, he always made the right pass at the right moment.

Work: When I was in college I worked as a teacher's assistant for first and third grade at an elementary school in South Los Angeles.

Chivas USA: A beginning and a challenge. Despite coming from different backgrounds, we all have the same goal: to help this team grow, to make it an important team in the U.S., and to give our best.