The King has a statue.
It’s not big. It’s not outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
But hey, a statue is a statue.
Atlanta United surprised its season-ticket holders with a gift box that included a small statue of Josef Martinez.
The concept was borne of the team’s desire to see a statue of Martinez, MLS MVP in 2018 when it won the MLS Cup, outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The pose of the statue was inspired by Martinez taking a knee after he scores, which he’s done 82 times in regular season and playoff games for the club.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Martinez loved the idea of the gift.
“Atlanta has become my home, and I love playing for the city and our fans,” he said in a statement provided by the team. “I always thank them for their support because of the way they treat my family and me, and I want them to know the affection is mutual. The statue is really cool, and I hope we can celebrate more goals together soon.”
The statue was designed by employees of the club and made by Bensussen Deutsch & Associates. Approximately 15,000 of the statues were made. There won’t be any for sale at the team’s shops.
A team spokeswoman said the club has been looking for an opportunity to do something with a statue of Martinez. Featuring it as a gift to season-ticket buyers was the decision.
It took six months of work to execute the idea.
About the Author
