Team: Houston Dynamo
Age: 21
Position: Forward
Nationality: Honduras
Former Team: Club Deportivo Olimpia
Nicknamed “La Panterita” (The Panther) Alberth Josué Elis Martínez is a Honduran international who plays as a striker or winger. With lightening quick pace and incredible strength, Elis enjoys going 1 on 1 leaving many defenders trailing in his path. Starting his career at Honduras’ most successful team Club Deportivo Olimpia. Elis spent 3 years at Olimpia, winning the Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Honduras in his first full season, making 9 appearances.
In the 2014/2015 season, Elis made 18 appearances for Olimpia, scoring 6 times throughout the season. The team went on to once again win the Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Honduras with a 2-1 over F.C. Motagua in the final.
By the next season, Elis became more of a first-team regular and rewarded his manager’s faith in him with a return of 19 goals in 35 appearances. On an international level, Elis helped lead Honduras to the 2015 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship, which they lost 2-0 to Mexico in the final. On route to the final, Honduras beat USA 2-0 in the semis, with Elis grabbing both goals. The result meant Honduras qualified for the 2016 Olympic games in Rio. Elis finished the tournament as the joint top goalscorer with 4 goals.
During the Rio Olympics, Honduras finished 2nd in their group. Elis grabbed a goal in the group stage during a 2-1 defeat to eventual group winners Portugal. A 1-1 draw with Argentina was enough to see Honduras through on goal difference. They would meet South Korea in the Quarter-Finals and it was Elis who grabbed the only goal of the game to see his country through to the semis. The semi-finals saw them up against a strong Brazil side who would run away with a 6-0 win on their way to winning the tournament.
These performances for club and country were enough to convince Mexican side C.F. Monterrey to part with £1.5m to sign Elis in the summer of 2016. Elis only made 5 appearances as Monterrey finished 2nd that season.
Elis was loaned to Houston Dynamo for the 2017 season and handed the number 17 shirt. He scored his 1st goal for the club in a 3-1 win against Columbus Crew. Elis continued to impress scoring five goals in his first nine games. With his fellow countryman, Romell Quioto on the opposite wing, the two would cause chaos for many defenders in the MLS. The two would score a goal each in a 2-1 victory over Minnesota, leaving Houston just inside the playoffs with just a few games of the regular season remaining. Elis being one of the standout performers of the season having scored 10 goals and also getting 4 assists in his 24 games.
