Roberto Martínez
Encyclopedia
Roberto Martínez Montoliú (marˈtineθ, mɑrˈtɪnɛz) (born 13 July 1973) is a Spanish
former professional footballer and is currently manager of Wigan Athletic.
Martínez played as a midfielder and began his career at lower league Spanish side CF Balaguer
. Two years later he went to English Division Three side Wigan Athletic. Becoming part of a small Spanish contingent at the club, alongside Jesús Seba
and Isidro Díaz
, he was a regular first team player for six years – the longest period of time he spent at a club. In 2001 he moved to Scottish side Motherwell
on a free transfer but he failed to break into the first team. He switched clubs the following year, this time to Walsall
, but again he played infrequently.
This prompted a move to Swansea City; in his first season Martínez was chosen as the team captain and helped the Welsh side avoid relegation from the Football League
. He formed an important part of the team from 2003 to 2006, making 122 league appearances and captaining them to League Two
promotion in 2005. He moved to Chester City
, again playing as captain, but in 2007 former club Swansea City approached Martínez, offering him the position of manager. He accepted the offer and soon brought success to the team, winning three consecutive Manager of the Month awards. He took Swansea to the League One title in the 2007–08 season, taking them back to England's second tier division after a 24-year absence. Martínez returned to Wigan Athletic in the role of manager in June 2009.
, Martínez began his career at his home-town club CF Balaguer
in the Spanish Third Division, playing his first competitive game for the club's youth team when he was nine years old. He played at every level of youth football for the club before moving to Real Zaragoza
at the age of 16. He made his first appearance for the club's B team
in 1991, but spent most of his first three seasons at the club playing for the youth teams. On 20 June 1993, he made his debut for the first team in La Liga
on the final day of the 1992–93 season in a 2–2 draw with Atlético Madrid, coming onto the pitch as a substitute for Luis Carlos Cuartero in the 55th minute. During the following season, Martínez featured more regularly for the B team, helping the team regain promotion to the Segunda División B
after being relegated in the previous season. In 1994, he returned to Balaguer to play for the first team, and also ran a football school for the club as an alternative to military service
.
and he signed on a free transfer on 25 July 1995, joining fellow Spaniards Jesús Seba
and Isidro Díaz
, who were collectively referred to as the "Three Amigos". He made his debut on 12 August 1995 against Gillingham
, scoring for Wigan in a 2–1 defeat. He finished the season as the club's top goalscorer with 13 goals in all competitions, and his impressive performances were recognised when he was named in the Division Three PFA Team of the Year
, and was also voted by the supporters as the club's Player of the Year. He won his first honours at the end of the following season when Wigan finished as Division Three champions. He was once again named in the Division Three PFA Team of the Year, and was rewarded with a new four-year contract. Martínez was also at Wigan when the team won the Football League Trophy
in 1999, which he received a winners' medal for despite being injured when the final was played. He spent six seasons at Wigan, making 180 appearances for the club, with a further 47 as substitute, and scoring 23 goals.
Released on a free transfer at the end of the 2000–01 season, Martínez signed a three-year deal with Scottish
club Motherwell
in July 2001. He made only eight appearances, plus eight more as a substitute, before having his contract terminated at the end of the season after the club had entered administration a week earlier. He moved back to England to join First Division club Walsall
on a free transfer in August 2002. Again, he did not feature regularly, starting just one game for Walsall (a home match against Reading
, in which he also got sent off) and making a further five appearances as a substitute.
In January 2003, Martínez joined Swansea City on a short term contract until the end of the season, becoming the captain and helping to preserve the club's Football League status on the last day of the season. In June 2003, despite reported interest from First Division clubs, Martínez signed a new contract with Swansea. At the start of the 2004–05 season
, Martínez was dropped from the squad by manager Kenny Jackett
, but fought his way back in to the first team, making 37 league appearances as the club won promotion to League One
. By the end of 2005–06 season
, he had made 111 appearances for Swansea City, with a further eleven as substitute, and had scored four goals. In May 2006, Martínez was released on a free transfer.
Martínez joined Chester City
on a free transfer, signing a two year contract. In February 2007 he returned to Swansea City as manager ironically replacing Kenny Jackett
who had let him go at the end of the previous season. This appointment was met with mostly great delight from the fans despite him not having any managerial experience. Because his move to Swansea occurred outside the transfer window, Martínez could not register himself to play for the club for the remainder of the season. Although Martínez initially wanted to continue playing football for as long as possible, he soon felt that he would be unable to fully commit to a player-manager role, bringing his playing career to an end at the age of 33.
.
Martínez won manager of the month for October 2007 by leading his team to four wins in four in the league including a 5–0 win and a 4–1 win over Leyton Orient
and Bournemouth
away from home. He then won it again in December after a thrilling 3–2 win over Leeds United at the Swans' Liberty Stadium
. Martínez won his second and third consecutive manager of the month awards in January after a second 4–0 win away from home this season, against Doncaster
. He was also nominated for the February prize but lost out to John Ward
, manager of Carlisle United
. In April 2008, Martínez signed a new contract with Swansea as the club secured promotion to the Championship
, and in May 2008, he was awarded the League Managers Association's manager of the year award for League One after leading Swansea to the title.
The 2008–09 season saw Martínez preside over Swansea's first game in England's second tier division in 24 years and it began poorly with a 2–0 defeat away at Charlton. Since then, Swansea's form improved, losing only 4 games out of the next 30. By January 2009, the team had scored a number of key league victories against opponents such as Reading and Wolves. Martínez also took the team to a 2–0 win against Premier League side and the defending cup holders Portsmouth in the FA Cup.
Throughout his time at Swansea, Martínez was often linked with other managerial jobs, but stated that he would only leave Swansea as manager if he was "forced out". As his success grew, he criticised players that left the club for money or larger clubs.
In June, both Celtic
and Wigan Athletic asked Swansea for permission to speak with Martínez regarding new managerial positions at the clubs, with Wigan being given the opportunity to hold talks with Martínez. After several days of negotiations Martínez was confirmed as the new manager of Wigan, taking four backroom staff with him. Martínez signed a three-year contract worth £1.5 million and was assured by Wigan owner Dave Whelan that his job would be safe for the next three years, even if the club suffer relegation.
". Martínez explained that his decision had been a difficult one to make, but felt the opportunity to manage in the Premier League at the club where he began his English footballing career was too good to turn down.
His first league game as Wigan manager was an away fixture against Aston Villa on 15 August 2009. Wigan won the match 2–0, and was the first season they had won an opening game in the Premier League. However, in his first home game, the team slumped to a 1–0 defeat to newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers
, and was followed by a 5–0 defeat against Manchester United, despite being 0–0 at half time. This inconsistency set the tone for Martínez's first season in charge, with home wins against Chelsea
, Liverpool
and Arsenal
, but also a series of heavy defeats. This included a 9–1 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur
on 22 November 2009, a club record defeat for Wigan, and the first time that a Premier League side had scored nine goals in a single match since Manchester United
beat Ipswich Town
9–0 in 1995. On the final day of the season Wigan suffered another heavy defeat losing 8–0 to Chelsea
, a result which gave their opponents the Premier League title. The club finished the season in 16th place, but with a goal difference of -42, the worst in the Premier League.
On 26 October 2010, Martínez faced his former club Swansea in the League Cup
. Martínez received a hostile reception from Swansea fans as Wigan won the match 2–0. On 10 June 2011, it was announced that Martínez had turned down an approach from Aston Villa regarding their vacant managerial position, and had signed a new contract with Wigan Athletic.
coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
on ESPN
. He has also been a regular guest on Sky Sports
' Spanish football program Revista de la Liga. In addition to that, he has made several appearances on the BBC's Match of the Day
.
, Martínez obtained a degree in physiotherapy. He also has a postgraduate degree in business management which he studied for at Manchester University.
In June 2009, Martínez married his Scottish girlfriend Beth Thompson at St Joseph's Cathedral in Swansea. The couple met in Scotland in 2002, while he was playing for Motherwell
.
Swansea City
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
former professional footballer and is currently manager of Wigan Athletic.
Martínez played as a midfielder and began his career at lower league Spanish side CF Balaguer
CF Balaguer
Club de Futbol Balaguer is a Spanish football team based in Balaguer, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1945, it currently plays in Tercera División - Group 5, holding home games at Municipal de Balaguer, with a capacity of 3,500...
. Two years later he went to English Division Three side Wigan Athletic. Becoming part of a small Spanish contingent at the club, alongside Jesús Seba
Jesús Seba
Jesús Seba Hernández is a retired Spanish professional footballer who played mostly as a forward.Mostly associated to Real Zaragoza, he is also known as one of the 'Three Amigos', the collective name given to the first three Spanish footballers to play in the English Football League, as he had...
and Isidro Díaz
Isidro Díaz
Isidro Díaz Bernabé is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a right midfielder.-Football career:Born in Valencia, Díaz spent his first years as a senior in the Tercera División, with the exception of the 1992–93 season, which ended in relegation from Segunda División B with Real Zaragoza's...
, he was a regular first team player for six years – the longest period of time he spent at a club. In 2001 he moved to Scottish side Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
on a free transfer but he failed to break into the first team. He switched clubs the following year, this time to Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, but again he played infrequently.
This prompted a move to Swansea City; in his first season Martínez was chosen as the team captain and helped the Welsh side avoid relegation from the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. He formed an important part of the team from 2003 to 2006, making 122 league appearances and captaining them to League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
promotion in 2005. He moved to Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
, again playing as captain, but in 2007 former club Swansea City approached Martínez, offering him the position of manager. He accepted the offer and soon brought success to the team, winning three consecutive Manager of the Month awards. He took Swansea to the League One title in the 2007–08 season, taking them back to England's second tier division after a 24-year absence. Martínez returned to Wigan Athletic in the role of manager in June 2009.
Spain
Born in BalaguerBalaguer
Balaguer is the capital of the comarca of Noguera, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain.It is located by the river Segre, a tributary to the Ebre....
, Martínez began his career at his home-town club CF Balaguer
CF Balaguer
Club de Futbol Balaguer is a Spanish football team based in Balaguer, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1945, it currently plays in Tercera División - Group 5, holding home games at Municipal de Balaguer, with a capacity of 3,500...
in the Spanish Third Division, playing his first competitive game for the club's youth team when he was nine years old. He played at every level of youth football for the club before moving to Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
at the age of 16. He made his first appearance for the club's B team
Real Zaragoza B
Real Zaragoza B is a Spanish football club based in Zaragoza, in the autonomous community of Aragon. Founded in 1962, it is the reserve team of Real Zaragoza, and currently plays in Segunda División B – Group 3, holding home matches at Ciudad Deportiva Real Zaragoza, with a capacity of 2,500...
in 1991, but spent most of his first three seasons at the club playing for the youth teams. On 20 June 1993, he made his debut for the first team in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
on the final day of the 1992–93 season in a 2–2 draw with Atlético Madrid, coming onto the pitch as a substitute for Luis Carlos Cuartero in the 55th minute. During the following season, Martínez featured more regularly for the B team, helping the team regain promotion to the Segunda División B
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
after being relegated in the previous season. In 1994, he returned to Balaguer to play for the first team, and also ran a football school for the club as an alternative to military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
.
Great Britain
He was offered the chance to move to England by Dave Whelan, chairman of Wigan AthleticWigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
and he signed on a free transfer on 25 July 1995, joining fellow Spaniards Jesús Seba
Jesús Seba
Jesús Seba Hernández is a retired Spanish professional footballer who played mostly as a forward.Mostly associated to Real Zaragoza, he is also known as one of the 'Three Amigos', the collective name given to the first three Spanish footballers to play in the English Football League, as he had...
and Isidro Díaz
Isidro Díaz
Isidro Díaz Bernabé is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a right midfielder.-Football career:Born in Valencia, Díaz spent his first years as a senior in the Tercera División, with the exception of the 1992–93 season, which ended in relegation from Segunda División B with Real Zaragoza's...
, who were collectively referred to as the "Three Amigos". He made his debut on 12 August 1995 against Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, scoring for Wigan in a 2–1 defeat. He finished the season as the club's top goalscorer with 13 goals in all competitions, and his impressive performances were recognised when he was named in the Division Three PFA Team of the Year
PFA Team of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 44 footballers in the top four tiers of English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, whom are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year".The award...
, and was also voted by the supporters as the club's Player of the Year. He won his first honours at the end of the following season when Wigan finished as Division Three champions. He was once again named in the Division Three PFA Team of the Year, and was rewarded with a new four-year contract. Martínez was also at Wigan when the team won the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
in 1999, which he received a winners' medal for despite being injured when the final was played. He spent six seasons at Wigan, making 180 appearances for the club, with a further 47 as substitute, and scoring 23 goals.
Released on a free transfer at the end of the 2000–01 season, Martínez signed a three-year deal with Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
club Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
in July 2001. He made only eight appearances, plus eight more as a substitute, before having his contract terminated at the end of the season after the club had entered administration a week earlier. He moved back to England to join First Division club Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
on a free transfer in August 2002. Again, he did not feature regularly, starting just one game for Walsall (a home match against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, in which he also got sent off) and making a further five appearances as a substitute.
In January 2003, Martínez joined Swansea City on a short term contract until the end of the season, becoming the captain and helping to preserve the club's Football League status on the last day of the season. In June 2003, despite reported interest from First Division clubs, Martínez signed a new contract with Swansea. At the start of the 2004–05 season
2004–05 Football League Two
The 2004–05 Football League Two season was the first season since the Football League Third Division was renamed League Two, following a sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola. The league was made up of eighteen teams from the Third Division who were neither promoted or relegated, the four relegated...
, Martínez was dropped from the squad by manager Kenny Jackett
Kenny Jackett
Kenny Jackett is a former Wales international football player, who has since moved into management. He is the current manager of Millwall, the longest serving manager in the Football League Championship and eleventh longest serving manager in England.A skilful player, equally at home in defence or...
, but fought his way back in to the first team, making 37 league appearances as the club won promotion to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
. By the end of 2005–06 season
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
, he had made 111 appearances for Swansea City, with a further eleven as substitute, and had scored four goals. In May 2006, Martínez was released on a free transfer.
Martínez joined Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
on a free transfer, signing a two year contract. In February 2007 he returned to Swansea City as manager ironically replacing Kenny Jackett
Kenny Jackett
Kenny Jackett is a former Wales international football player, who has since moved into management. He is the current manager of Millwall, the longest serving manager in the Football League Championship and eleventh longest serving manager in England.A skilful player, equally at home in defence or...
who had let him go at the end of the previous season. This appointment was met with mostly great delight from the fans despite him not having any managerial experience. Because his move to Swansea occurred outside the transfer window, Martínez could not register himself to play for the club for the remainder of the season. Although Martínez initially wanted to continue playing football for as long as possible, he soon felt that he would be unable to fully commit to a player-manager role, bringing his playing career to an end at the age of 33.
Swansea City
With Martínez in charge, Swansea lost just once in 11 games, giving them a chance of clinching a play-off place on the final day of the 2006–07 season, but missed out following a 6–3 defeat at home against BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
.
Martínez won manager of the month for October 2007 by leading his team to four wins in four in the league including a 5–0 win and a 4–1 win over Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
and Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
away from home. He then won it again in December after a thrilling 3–2 win over Leeds United at the Swans' Liberty Stadium
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
The Liberty Stadium is a purpose-built sports stadium and conferencing venue in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales. The stadium is all-seated, with a capacity of 20,532 making it the largest purpose-built venue in Swansea and the third largest stadium in Wales after the Millennium Stadium and the...
. Martínez won his second and third consecutive manager of the month awards in January after a second 4–0 win away from home this season, against Doncaster
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
. He was also nominated for the February prize but lost out to John Ward
John Ward
John Ward may refer to:*John Ward , English composer*John Ward , English Gresham Professor of Rhetoric*John Ward , Lord Mayor of London...
, manager of Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
. In April 2008, Martínez signed a new contract with Swansea as the club secured promotion to the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, and in May 2008, he was awarded the League Managers Association's manager of the year award for League One after leading Swansea to the title.
The 2008–09 season saw Martínez preside over Swansea's first game in England's second tier division in 24 years and it began poorly with a 2–0 defeat away at Charlton. Since then, Swansea's form improved, losing only 4 games out of the next 30. By January 2009, the team had scored a number of key league victories against opponents such as Reading and Wolves. Martínez also took the team to a 2–0 win against Premier League side and the defending cup holders Portsmouth in the FA Cup.
Throughout his time at Swansea, Martínez was often linked with other managerial jobs, but stated that he would only leave Swansea as manager if he was "forced out". As his success grew, he criticised players that left the club for money or larger clubs.
In June, both Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and Wigan Athletic asked Swansea for permission to speak with Martínez regarding new managerial positions at the clubs, with Wigan being given the opportunity to hold talks with Martínez. After several days of negotiations Martínez was confirmed as the new manager of Wigan, taking four backroom staff with him. Martínez signed a three-year contract worth £1.5 million and was assured by Wigan owner Dave Whelan that his job would be safe for the next three years, even if the club suffer relegation.
Wigan Athletic
His move to Wigan was not without controversy. Swansea fans were upset that Martínez had chosen to leave the club despite his previous comments that he would have to be "forced out" to leave Swansea, and was nicknamed by some Swans fans as "El JudasJudas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
". Martínez explained that his decision had been a difficult one to make, but felt the opportunity to manage in the Premier League at the club where he began his English footballing career was too good to turn down.
His first league game as Wigan manager was an away fixture against Aston Villa on 15 August 2009. Wigan won the match 2–0, and was the first season they had won an opening game in the Premier League. However, in his first home game, the team slumped to a 1–0 defeat to newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, and was followed by a 5–0 defeat against Manchester United, despite being 0–0 at half time. This inconsistency set the tone for Martínez's first season in charge, with home wins against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, but also a series of heavy defeats. This included a 9–1 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
on 22 November 2009, a club record defeat for Wigan, and the first time that a Premier League side had scored nine goals in a single match since Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
beat Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
9–0 in 1995. On the final day of the season Wigan suffered another heavy defeat losing 8–0 to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, a result which gave their opponents the Premier League title. The club finished the season in 16th place, but with a goal difference of -42, the worst in the Premier League.
On 26 October 2010, Martínez faced his former club Swansea in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. Martínez received a hostile reception from Swansea fans as Wigan won the match 2–0. On 10 June 2011, it was announced that Martínez had turned down an approach from Aston Villa regarding their vacant managerial position, and had signed a new contract with Wigan Athletic.
Broadcasting career
Martinez served as a studio analyst for the English-languageEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. He has also been a regular guest on Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
' Spanish football program Revista de la Liga. In addition to that, he has made several appearances on the BBC's Match of the Day
Match of the Day
Match of the Day is the BBC's main football television programme. Typically, it is shown on BBC One on Saturday evenings during the English football season, showing highlights of the day's matches in English football's top division, the Premier League...
.
Personal life
Whilst playing for Real ZaragozaReal Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
, Martínez obtained a degree in physiotherapy. He also has a postgraduate degree in business management which he studied for at Manchester University.
In June 2009, Martínez married his Scottish girlfriend Beth Thompson at St Joseph's Cathedral in Swansea. The couple met in Scotland in 2002, while he was playing for Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
.
Managerial statistics
| Team | Nation | From | Swansea City Swansea City A.F.C. Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position... | 24 February 2007 | 15 June 2009 | 126 | 63 | 37 | 26 | 50.00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic F.C. Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... |
14 August 2009 | Present | 89 | 20 | 27 | 42 |
As a player
Wigan Athletic- Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
- Winners: 1997
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
- Winners: 19991999 Football League Trophy FinalThe 1999 Football League Trophy Final was the 16th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Second and Third Division of the Football League. The match was played at Wembley on 18 April 1999, and was contested by Millwall and Wigan Athletic...
- Winners: 1999
Swansea City
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
- Winners: 20062006 Football League Trophy FinalThe 2006 Football League Trophy Final was the 23rd final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 2 April 2006. The match was contested between Swansea City and Carlisle...
- Winners: 2006
As a manager
Swansea City- Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
- Winners: 2008