FRISCO, Texas – Within minutes of speaking to him, you can tell José Antonio Martínez wants to be here. Maybe within seconds.
FC Dallas’ new Spanish center back has an inherent aura of authority, honed during his years in FC Barcelona and Sevilla’s development systems. In his first La Liga campaign with Granada CF, Martínez anchored the division’s eighth-best defense and helped the Andalusian side to its first-ever Europa League qualification. It’s an impressive resumé. But from speaking to him, you’d never know it.
Martínez mixes a quiet confidence with an effervescent personality. With teammates, he’s both friend and mentor. But most apparent is his wide, nearly ever-present smile. It’s the mark of a man who’s in the right place at exactly the right time.
Martínez’s first opportunity to come to MLS was actually a few years ago when he was playing for Barcelona B in Spain’s second tier. At the time, his main ambition was to play in his native country’s topflight, which he later achieved during his loan spell with Granada. Still, the idea of playing in the U.S. stuck with the now 28-year-old.
“When I was (first) told an MLS club was interested in me… the thought of playing in MLS had never crossed my mind,” he said. “I have always liked the sporting culture in America, and from that moment the restlessness to be here caught fire in me. It was a strange sensation because I never thought I was going to be here but then I started realizing it would be a reality.”
The unfortunate downside of that reality is that, due to the pandemic, Martínez had to make the journey alone. His girlfriend, Andrea, and dog, Jota (who Martínez refers to as his son), are both still in Spain.
“It’s very difficult [to be away from my family],” he admitted. “I don’t know when they will be able to come here because the pandemic makes it difficult. It’s currently difficult in Spain as well. But they know I am happy here, and they know I’m doing what I love and that I want to be here. For them to see me like this can help lighten up the mood. I miss my son – I like to call my dog my son – my girlfriend and all of my family. I know we will see each other soon; we are all good, and we are all happy at the moment.”
Although an ocean away from his homeland, Martínez is finding familiarity on the field.
“To be honest, the coaches [here] have an ideal style of play that is quite similar to the one that’s used in Europe. Dominating the ball, and when you’re not dominating the ball, trying to apply pressure on your opponent so that when the ball is recovered, we have the opportunity to create danger and win games…I am comfortable because it’s a methodology that I like and a concept that I like to work with.”
Perhaps it’s that familiarity that’s helped Martínez fit in so seamlessly. Barely a week into preseason and Martínez led an informal team talk, addressing his colleagues in both Spanish and English—which he’s still learning.
“He’s a leader 100%,” said head coach Luchi Gonzalez. “That was a characteristic that we noticed before he was here. He showed that with Granada and helped them get into the first division. When we had the opportunity to bring him in, we jumped at it. It’s not just being overly vocal, it’s about being a leader by example and a leader as a human being. Organizing the team and being vocal on the field is of course a part of it. He’s still integrating and getting to know the guys and we’re getting to know him. But in a short amount of time, he’s already made a great impact.”
During water breaks, Martínez can be seen counseling his younger teammates, explaining certain movements he saw in the previous drill. “His experience is very valuable, and the players know that,” Luchi continued. “It’s funny because he doesn’t expect the respect, he shows respect and then gets respect back and that’s what a leader does.”
Martínez fits the bill on the field, too. Having been brought up in the Spanish system, the 6-foot-2, left-footed defender possesses the necessary technical qualities to play out of the back—a hallmark of Luchi and FCD’s philosophy.
“I like to dominate the game with ball possession,” he said. “Even as a center back, I like to help create space and use myself as an option in the middle. I like to look for spaces to give passes to my teammates that can create scoring chances. I like to press high, and I am the type to roam into the space ahead of me.
“I can also offer a lot of energy. I really wanted to be here, and I really want to win here. Having that hunger and coming from a different continent even can help my teammates and increase the energy. Everything done as a group will be better.”
It’s still early days, but it seems that Martínez – the player and the person – is an ideal fit for Dallas.
“I’ve only been here a short time, but I like the attitude and the energy the club has,” he said. “I want to adapt as soon as possible to the team, the system, the league and get some competitive rhythm in. Once the league starts, we will take it step-by-step and set a goal for the season. I like how it’s going so far. I like the energy in this group.”
