The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) announced today, through a press release, the hiring of Kyle Martino as lead analyst for the television network's first season broadcast Major League Soccer (MLS) games.
"I am very excited to be joining a company with such a rich sports history," said Martino in the press release. "To be a part of that tradition by covering Major League Soccer is a tremendous honor. I look forward to being a part of the NBC Sports Group team."
Martino will play the role of analyst "between the benches," similar to that of Pierre McGuire on NBC National Hockey League (NHL) broadcast. The 31-year-old will work with former Seattle Sounders play-by-play announcer Arlo White and current Portland Timbers analyst Robbie Earle.
"When we first obtained the MLS rights last year, we identified Kyle as an analyst we'd like to be a part of our broadcasts," said Pierre Moossa, former producer of NBC's Sunday Night Football, in the press release, . "Teaming him with Arlo White gives us two premier soccer announcers that fans will thoroughly enjoy. With the addition of Robbie Earle, we have added another exceptional soccer commentator to our team."
The former United States Men's National Team (USMNT) player most recently worked for Fox Soccer Channel (FSC) as an in-game analyst.
Two years ago Martino was the Philadelphia Union's color commentator, working alongside JP Dellacamera. He was criticized for a perceived lack of commitment to the job, as Martino missed multiple games throughout the 2010 MLS season, prior to moving to FSC.