As twins, Aaron and Moises Martinez are inextricably linked to one another; they share DNA, a last name, and athletic ability.
The latter has led to another commonality - a love of soccer and experience competing at the professional level.
The Martinezes played for the Savannah Clovers FC in 2024. A team spokesman said they were not re-signed for the 2025 season and moved back to Colorado after living in Bryan County.
The Savannah squad is a Tier 3 professional team that competes in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) and holds its home games at Memorial Stadium. The league features teams from Maryland, Michigan, Florida, Georgia, California and Arizona and is split into east and west divisions.
Players are full time professionals who have competed in college or at a professional academy. The soccer is top notch and competitive as players gain experience as professionals and look to move up to the top levels of the sport.
Savannah was the culmination of a soccer odyssey that started for the twins in their hometown of Mexico City.
The brothers come from a soccer family. Their father and older brother played the sport. It was only natural they followed suit. “We loved playing soccer,” said Aaron, who is 3 minutes older than Moises.
When they were 10 years old, the Martinezes moved to Colorado. Two years later, they enrolled in the Colorado Rapids Academy and honed their skills competing in various tournaments around the country.
The duo moved to the college ranks and played at Salt Lake Community College in 2017 and 2018. Aaron transferred to Colorado Mesa University (CMU), a Division II school, and played there from 2019 to 2021 (missing the 2020 season due to the pandemic) before graduating with a degree in business administration and management and working a variety of jobs while keeping his soccer skills sharp by competing in a summer semi pro league and on a number of under-23 (U23) teams in Colorado.
Moises took some time off after leaving Salt Lake Community College and pursued a number of vocations, including training and coaching for Greeley FC, before going to Colorado Mesa State and playing soccer in 2022 and 2023 and graduating with a degree in sports management. Although the brothers were used to being together on the pitch, Aaron said it was a good challenge to be apart and compete with other players while at CMU.
In 2023, Aaron became the first player to sign with the Savannah Clovers, who were coached by Dave Proctor. A former professional player in England, Proctor coached several age groups at the Colorado Rapids Academy and had Aaron and Moises among his players.
In April, Moises joined the Clovers, thus presenting Proctor with the challenge of telling the twins apart.
“Thankfully they wear different colored soccer boots so I can tell them apart,” Proctor said. “I still call them by the opposite name to this day.”
Proctor described the twins as very technical, tenacious players who are very skillful and have good passing range. Aaron, he noted, has a bit more tenacity in the tackle. They both possess great attitudes and work ethics and are great guys off the field, Proctor added. “The twins have the greatest smiles, especially after a win,” Proctor said.
Although they’re identical twins, Aaron and Moises have differences on and off the field. Aaron has shorter hair. Moises said Aaron’s more intense on the pitch. Aaron noted they’re both defensive minded but Moises is crafty and offensive minded.
Playing on the same team as professionals is rewarding for the duo. Moises said Aaron paved the way for him and is a great motivator. He further described him as very crafty and a talented player.
Playing with his brother, Aaron remarked, gives him strength and great motivation to see Moises playing well. “Playing alongside my twin brother is great and a dream come true,” Aaron said.
Sometimes, the reality of competing as professionals interrupts that dream. Aaron said they share the mentality of giving 100% percent every day.
“My spot is on the line,” Aaron said. “I’m ruthless, even if it’s my brother.”
Although Moises said Aaron is more intense on the pitch, he’s focused in his own right. “We share that intensity and that makes us better,” he said.
The Martinezes had to adjust to playing professionally, but there’s the comfort of doing it together, just as they’ve done for all but 3 minutes of their lives.
“I know exactly where he’s going to be when we’re playing soccer,” Aaron said. “We’re very compatible with one another.”
