Kyle Martino and Taylor Twellman are very similar – and not just because Martino says Twellman is the only person who has a head as large as he does.
“I don’t mean ego,” Martino told MLSsoccer.com. “Our heads are just enormous.”
Their other, less noggin-related similarities stem from the fact that both men had to give up their professional soccer careers earlier than they hoped but now are finding new ways to contribute to the sport that gave them so much.
It’s only fitting, then, that Twellman replaced Martino as the new color analyst for the Philadelphia Union.
“I’ve talked to Taylor about this and being able to go into the booth and cover games was a savior for me,” said Martino, who played for the Columbus Crew and LA Galaxy from 2002 until 2007 before beginning his broadcasting career. “It’s the only way to fill the void you get from missing from the game. Being a color analyst gives me the same buzz I had as a soccer player when I’m running out of the tunnel and jumping out onto the field.”
Twellman – who took the job in Philly earlier this month after Martino moved to Los Angeles to work full-time at Fox Soccer – anticipates a similar feeling when he calls his first Union game on Saturday in Houston alongside veteran play-by-play man JP Dellacamera. The only difference will be how the former MLS star handles it.
“It’s a little different,” said Twellman, who played parts of 10 seasons in New England before retiring following symptoms from concussions. “When I was playing, I could run out my nerves and slide tackle someone. I guess if I slide-tackle JP, we could be in trouble.
[inline_node:41714]Like Martino (pictured right in his LA Galaxy days), Twellman is grateful to have an opportunity to still be a part of Major League Soccer, even if he can’t run, jump and kick any longer.
While on injured reserve last year with New England, he got his feet wet by doing commentary for a couple of ESPN games, including the Union-Manchester United friendly at Lincoln Financial Field. More recently, Twellman joined ESPN's coverage of January's SuperDraft and was part of the ESPN crew covering Tuesday night's Sounders-Galaxy First Kick match in Seattle.
Still, Twellman recognizes that he’s very raw and has a long way to go to achieve the same kind of success he had as a player.
“One thing I definitely have is enthusiasm,” said Twellman, who scored more than 100 career MLS goals. “Sometimes, in the games I did, I caught myself getting too excited. I just have to calm down and articulate and have that same kind of enthusiasm.
“I just love being part of the game. I feel like because I can’t leave my mark on the field, off the field I can really be a face and voice of MLS.”
Martino has known Twellman for a while and remembers many late-night meals when other players would leave but Twellman would stick around just to talk soccer. Martino saw his passion for the game then – and he expects that to continue in the booth in Philly.
“I was going through exactly what he’s going through now – jumping into something with both feet and not knowing what went into it,” Martino said. “The good part is he knows soccer. I told him, ‘Don’t overcomplicate it. Just explain to people why something is happening. Talk on the air like you did sitting around those tables when we’d talk at dinner after games.’”
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