Atlanta United
Atlanta United

One Venezuelan pioneer proud of another

Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez, center, poses with Carlos Bocanegra, Atlanta United VP and Technical Director, Darren Eales, Atlanta United President, and Arthur Blank, Atlanta United Owner, after Martinez was awarded the MLS MVP at the Arthur M. Blank Family Office Wednesday, December 5, 2018, in Atlanta. (JASON GETZ/SPECIAL TO THE AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz

Credit: Jason Getz

Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez, center, poses with Carlos Bocanegra, Atlanta United VP and Technical Director, Darren Eales, Atlanta United President, and Arthur Blank, Atlanta United Owner, after Martinez was awarded the MLS MVP at the Arthur M. Blank Family Office Wednesday, December 5, 2018, in Atlanta. (JASON GETZ/SPECIAL TO THE AJC)
By
Dec 6, 2018

As the first Venezuelan to play in MLS, Portland manager Giovanni Savarese said he’s very proud that Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez became the first Venezuelan to be named the league’s MVP.

“First Venezuelan to win MVP is very important,” Savarese said Thursday.

Savarese is trying to figure out how to slow down Martinez ahead of Saturday’s MLS Cup between the two teams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Martinez became not only the single-season scoring leader when he notched 31 goals during the regular season, he has added three more in the playoffs to become the single season combined scoring leader.

Savarese was a scorer when he was selected by New York/New Jersey MetroStars in the ninth round of the inaugural MLS draft in 1996. He scored 41 goals during the regular season, and 44 overall, for the club from 1996-98.

About the Author

Doug Roberson covers the Atlanta United and Major League Soccer.

Follow Doug Roberson on facebookFollow Doug Roberson on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Atlanta United forward Emmanuel Latte Lath (left) scores a goal during the Leagues Cup match against the Pumas UNAM at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday Aug. 2, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Mitch Martin/Atlanta United)

Credit: Mitch Martin/Atlanta United

Important things to watch in Atlanta United’s final 5 matches

Though Atlanta United’s remaining five matches don’t mean anything because it was eliminated from playoff scenarios, they could set the course for next season’s success.

Lack of consistency crushes Atlanta United this season, Deila says

Atlanta United is out of the playoff race with five games left, the earliest the team has been eliminated from MLS Cup contention in the franchise's nine-year history.

Atlanta United eliminated from playoff possibility with 5-4 loss to Columbus

The Latest

Atlanta United forward Emmanuel Latte Lath (left) scores a goal during the Leagues Cup match against the Pumas UNAM at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday Aug. 2, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Mitch Martin/Atlanta United)

Credit: Mitch Martin/Atlanta United

Important things to watch in Atlanta United’s final 5 matches

Lack of consistency crushes Atlanta United this season, Deila says

Atlanta United eliminated from playoff possibility with 5-4 loss to Columbus

Featured

Fulton DA Fani Willis (center) with Nathan J. Wade (right), the special prosecutor she hired to manage the Trump case and had a romantic relationship with, at a news conference announcing charges against President-elect Donald Trump and others in Atlanta, Aug. 14, 2023. Georgia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, upheld an appeals court's decision to disqualify Willis from the election interference case against Trump and his allies. (Kenny Holston/New York Times)

Credit: NYT

Fani Willis loses last chance to stay at the helm of Trump Georgia election interference case

Georgia's top court declines to hear Fani Willis appeal in Trump case, meaning she can no longer pursue the election interference case.

Investigator: Ex-APD officer raped woman on duty, returned when she called 911

Fulton County Magistrate Judge Todd Ashley ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed against former officer Muhammad Muhammad.

Cobb County agency green lights tax break for Home Depot’s $140M project

The Development Authority of Cobb County voted 6-0 to give initial approval for Home Depot's request Tuesday but didn't disclose the property tax savings the company sought.