Star expelled from U-17 residency

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Oct 8, 2008

Carlos Martinez, who was tied for the team lead in international appearances, goals and assists on the U.S. under-17 boys national team in 2008, has been kicked out of the U.S. U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Fla., and returned to his family, which recently moved from Las Vegas back to their former hometown of San Pedro, Calif.

According to ESPNsoccernet, U.S. U-17 coach Wilmer Cabrera kicked Martinez out of the program for breaking team rules more than once (most recently curfew on the team's recent trip to Southern California for games against Chivas USA's academy teams and the Nomads as part of its tour to Development Academy clubs).

"Carlos learned a very valuable lesson and he's hurting right now," Martinez's agent, Jeff Jacobs, told ESPNsoccernet. "He's extremely upset right now. It's unfortunate and we hope the door isn't closed on Carlos."

Martinez, who played for Downtown Las Vegas SC before moving to Bradenton, was in his third semester of residency and was one of the top attacking players on a team with a number of outstanding prospects.

He made a name for himself by scoring against Brazil in the USA's 2-0 win at last fall's Development Academy Nike Friendlies and scored in three of four games at the Mondial Minimes tournament in France earlier this year.

Martinez moved from California to Las Vegas when he was 13. He was cut from the Nevada ODP team when he tried out for the first time. His persistence paid off a year later when he made the Nevada state team and regional team.

A high school junior, Martinez has attracted considerable interest from MLS clubs and teams in Europe and Mexico. He trained at Dutch club Feyenoord late in the summer.