Carlos Jorge Neto Martins (born 29 April 1982 in Oliveira do Hospital) is a Portuguese footballer currently playing for Sport Lisboa e Benfica.

An attacking midfielder, he is noted for his long-range shots.

[edit] Club career

Martins was a product of the youth system of Sporting Clube de Portugal, joining its ranks at the age of eight. Though a promising player, he had a string of injuries and subpar performances that made him underachieve almost every season of the five years he spent on the senior books of the Lisbon-based side. However, that didn't stop him from being one of the most popular players with the fans. With a generous attitude and field vision, Martins was not few times the object of some of Europe's top clubs desires, though once again, his injuries and the lack of regularity in his exhibitions kept him from being acquired. He made his first division debuts with modest S.C. Campomaiorense and, from January-June 2003, was again loaned, to fellow league side Académica de Coimbra.

In the 2005–06 season, despite the everpresent physical problems, Martins was still able to score two goals in only 13 starts. With all his talent seemingly going to waste, Martins needed to improve his defensive attitude to optimize his game.

However, in February 2007, after several bouts of indiscipline at Sporting, coach Paulo Bento ostracized Martins for the final three months of the season, and although a player still under contract, moving abroad was the only option for the talented/troubled player and, on July, he transferred to La Liga's Recreativo de Huelva to start anew.

On November, Portuguese network RTPi interviewed Martins about his situation at Sporting and the player responded: "My situation with coach Bento has been a very bad one. I was constantly pressured to perform and when I did eventually get the call-up to the national side, it got so far that it almost turned into a physical confrontation". Bento denies this despite media sources releasing information of the two that went back to Bento's playing career at Sporting.

Martins finished the season with six goals in 32 appearances. He was a fan favourite at the Nuevo Colombino and was dubbed their version of Steven Gerrard by media sources and fans, also being nicknamed Carlitos.

On the 1st of July 2008, Martins signed a five-year deal with Sport Lisboa e Benfica, with the club paying €3 million for the transfer (40% to Recreativo, 40% to Sporting and 20% to the player).^[1] Regularly used during his first campaign, although never an undisputed starter, he netted his first goal for the club in a 2–0 win at Vitória de Guimarães for the Portuguese League Cup; also in that competition, he scored the decider in the penalty shootout final win over former side Sporting, on March 21, 2009.

[edit] International career

After Portugal finished in 4th place at the 2006 World Cup, Martins, a former U-21 international was, for the first time, called to the Portugal squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Finland and Denmark, performing well.^[2]

He was recalled again after UEFA Euro 2008.

[edit] Honours

• Sporting CP:
  • UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2004–05

• Benfica:
  • Portuguese League Cup: 2008–09

[edit] Club statistics

* - Not available

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Stats and profile at Zerozero
• PortuGOAL profile
• BDFutbol profile
• NationalFootballTeams data

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