World Cup South Africa 2010
History - Groups - Players - Venues
Favorite Players by Country (Germany 2006)
Group A - Costa Rica:
Gilberto Martínez
Place of Birth: Golfito, Costa Rica
Date of Birth: October 1st, 1979
Position: Defender
Clubs: Brescia
Gilberto Martínez Vidal is a Costa Rican football player, who currently plays defender for Brescia of Italian Serie B.
Martínez began his career in Costa Rica with one of the nation's most prestigious clubs, Deportivo Saprissa in the 1999/2000 season. He participated with Costa Rica's national team in the Football World Youth Championship held at Nigeria in 1999.
His performances in the domestic league and Nigeria's Football World Youth Championship soon earned him a place on the Costa Rican national team, and Martínez quickly established himself there as well. Martinez started all three of the team's games in the 2002 World Cup, and his performances were impressive enough that Brescia purchased him from Saprissa the same year.
Martínez has had little trouble finding playing time with Brescia, either. In his first year, the 2002/3 season, he played in 34 games for the team. In his second, 2003/04, he played 30.
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