Roberto Martínez

At 51 years old, Roberto Martínez has this physical status:

Roberto Martnez Montoliu (born 13 July 1973) is a Spanish football coach and former professional footballer. Martnez is the head of Belgium's national team.

Martnez began his career as a defensive midfielder and spent his time in Real Zaragoza, winning the Copa del Rey. He spent a year with CF Balaguer in lower league before deciding on Wigan Athletic, an English Third Division team. He was a regular first team player for six years, joining Jes Seba and Isidro D'az as part of a tiny Spanish contingent at the club known as "the three amigos" alongside Jes Seba and Isidro D'az. He won the Football League Third Division and the Football League Trophy during his time in Europe. He first went to Motherwell, then Walsall, before joining Swansea City in 2003. In 2005, he was club captain and helped the team win promotion to League One. In 2006, he migrated to Chester City and was voted captain once more.

In 2007, he moved from playing to become the Swansea City's manager, leading them to promotion from League One as champions. He joined Wigan Athletic in 2009 and helped the team avoid relegation for three seasons in a row. In his fourth season, Wigan was dropped from the FA Cup in 2013 for the first time in the club's history. He became Everton's boss at the end of the season. He was fired as their boss in May 2016 and became Belgium's head coach on August 3. Martinez led them to third place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, their highest-ever position in the competition, as well as first place for Belgium in the FIFA World Rankings from 2018 to 2022.

Early life

Martnez, a native of Balaguer, Catalonia, began his playing days for the club's youth team when he was nine years old. He competed for every level of youth football for the club before heading to Real Zaragoza at the age of 16.

Personal life

Martez married his Scottish girlfriend Beth Thompson at St Joseph's Cathedral in Swansea in June 2009. When he was playing for Motherwell, the couple met in Scotland in 2002. Luella and Safiana are two daughters together.

Martnez obtained a bachelor's degree in physiotherapy while playing for Real Zaragoza. He also holds a postgraduate diploma in corporate leadership, which he obtained from Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Playing career

Martnez made his first appearance for the Real Zaragoza B squad in 1991 but spent the majority of his first three seasons with the club's youth team. On the last day of the 1992–93 season in La Liga, he made his debut for the first team in La Liga as a replacement for Luis Cuartero in the 55th minute. Martnez continued to play for the B team more often during the season, assisting the team in its promotion to the Segunda División B after being relegated in the previous season. He returned to Balaguer in 1994 to play for the first team and also ran a football school for the club as an alternative to military service.

Martnez was offered the opportunity to move to England by Dave Whelan, Chairman of Wigan Athletic, and he signed a free transfer on July 25th, 1995, joining fellow Spaniards Jes' Seba and Isidro D'az, who were collectively referred to as the "Three Amigos." In a 2–1 loss, he made his debut against Gillingham on August 12, 1995, scoring for Wigan. He spent 13 goals in all competitions during his time with the club, and was also voted Player of the Year by the supporters.

Martnez earned his first accolades at the end of the following season, in 1996-97, when Wigan finished as Division Three Champions. He was named in the Division Three PFA Team of the Year once more and was given a new four-year deal. Martnez was also at Wigan when the team won the Football League Trophy in 1999, for which he received a winners' medal despite being sick when the final was played.

Martnez, who was released by Wigan on a free transfer at the end of the 2000–01 season, joined Motherwell in July 2001. He made eight appearances, plus eight more as a substitute, before his deal was terminated at the end of the season after the club had begun administration a week earlier.

In August 2002, he went back to England to join Walsall in the First Division on a free transfer. He did not appear on a consistent basis, beginning with just one game against Walsall (a home match against Reading in which he was also sent off) and making three appearances as a replacement. Martnez joined Swansea City on a short-term deal until the end of the season, becoming the captain and assisting the club in preserving the club's Football League status on the last day of the season. Despite a rumours of rivalry among First Division clubs, Martnez renewed his deal with Swansea in June 2003. Martnez was dropped from the squad by boss Kenny Jackett at the start of the 2004-05 season, but he made his way back into the first team, playing 37 league appearances as the club won promotion to League One.

Martnez was released by Swansea on a free transfer in May 2006. Martnez joined Chester City as a free agent after completing a two-year deal. He returned to Swansea City as the head coach on a two-year contract on February 24, 2007, replacing Kenny Jackett, who had let him go at the end of the previous season. Despite the fact that he had no managerial experience, most people responded positively during his appointment. Martnez could not register himself to play for the remainder of the season because his transfer to Swansea occurred outside the transfer window. Despite Martnez's desire to play football for as long as possible, he soon realized that he would be unable to fully commit to a player-manager position, bringing his playing career to a close at the age of 33.

Managerial career

Swansea lost just once in 11 games, giving them a chance of clinching a play-off spot on the final day of the 2006–07 season, but they were disqualified after losing by 6–3 at home against Blackpool. Martnez received his first League One Manager of the Month Award for October 2007, leading his team to four straight victories in four games in the league, including a 5–0 win and a 4–1 win over Leyton Orient and AFC Bournemouth, respectively, away from home. In December after a dramatic 3–2 win over Leeds United at the Swans' Liberty Stadium, and in January after a second 4–0 victory away from home against Doncaster Rovers, he continued to win the award for the second time. He was also voted for the February draw, but he lost out to John Ward, the Carlisle United's manager. Martnez won promotion to the Championship as a champion in April 2008, and in May 2008, he received the League One Manager of the Year Award for leading Swansea to the title.

Martnez presided over Swansea's first game in England's second-tier division in 24 years, which culminated in a 2–0 loss away at Charlton Athletic. Swansea's form continued to improve, and they lost just four games out of the next 30, including a string of significant league victories over Reading and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Martnez later led his team to a 2–0 FA Cup victory over Portsmouth, the defending cup holders.

Martnez was often compared to other managerial positions in Swansea, but he often said that if you were "forced out," he would only leave Swansea as manager. He criticized players who left the club for money or for larger clubs as his fame increased. Both Celtic and Wigan Athletic demanded Swansea for permission to speak with Martnez about their managerial vacancies in June 2009, with Wigan being able to hold talks with Martnez. Martnez was appointed as the Wigan's new manager after several days of discussions on June 15, 2009, carrying four backroom workers with him. Martnez was released on a three-year deal worth £1.5 million and was told by Wigan chairman Dave Whelan that his job would be secure for the next three years, even if the club lost relegation.

Martnez's move to Wigan was not without controversy. Many Swansea supporters were outraged that despite his previous claims that he should be "forced out" to leave the club, and that he was later identified as "El Judas" by some followers. Martnez admitted that his decision had been difficult to make, but that the chance to lead in the Premier League at the club where he started his English footballing career was too promising to turn down. On August 15, 2009, Wigan's first league game as Wigan boss was an away match against Aston Villa. Wigan beat the opposition 2–0 in the Premier League's first season, and it was the first time they had won an opening match in the Premier League.

The team lost 1–0 to newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers in their first home game at the DW Stadium, but the team was still defeated 5–0 at halftime, despite being 0–0 at halftime. This inconsistency set the tone for Martnez' first season as boss, with home victories over Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal, but also a string of humiliating losses. On November 22, 2009, Manchester United defeated Tottenham Hotspur in a landslide, and it was the first time a Premier League team had scored nine goals in a single match after Manchester United defeated Ipswich Town 9–0 in 1995.

Martnez played for Swansea in the League Cup on October 26, 2010 for his former club Swansea. When Wigan defeated the match 2–0, Martnez received a hostile reception from Swansea supporters. Martnez had turned down a letter from Aston Villa regarding their vacant managerial role on June 10, 2011.

Wigan lost eight straight games to leave them at the bottom of the table after a promising start to the 2011–12 season. Wigan won just four games between August and February, leading to rumors that relegation to the Championship is inevitable for Wigan. Wigan's form improved dramatically as the season came to an end, as they defeated Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Newcastle United, among other things. Wigan finished 15th in the league after seven victories in nine games, seven points clear of relegation – and Martez was named Premier League Manager of the Month Award for April 2012.

Liverpool chairman Dave Whelan confirmed that they had been allowed to explore their managerial vacancy with Martnez on May 17, 2012. Brendan Rodgers, the job's boss in Swansea, was eventually transferred to John Rodgers. Martnez said he liked to remain at Wigan in order to leave "a mark" on the club.

Martnez was charged by the FA on September 26, 2012, for remarks made after Wigan's 4–0 loss to Manchester United on September 15, 2012. Danny Welbeck should have been dismissed from match officials at Old Trafford, according to the match officials.

Martnez led Wigan to their most fruitful ever FA Cup campaign, winning it for the first time in the club's history. After a 3–0 away victory over Everton in the quarter-finals, Wigan's previous best result in the tournament was to reach the quarter-finals; Martnez led Wigan to their first Wembley semi-final victory. On April 13, 2013, Wigan defeated Millwall in the semi-finals and went on to win their first ever FA Cup Final by 2–0. They defeated Manchester City 1–0 with a goal by 91st minute from replacement Ben Watson to become the 43rd different club to win the FA Cup.

Martnez's Wigan team was relegated from the Premier League after losing by 4–1 against Arsenal on May 14, 2013, just three days after winning the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium.

Martnez was allowed to speak to Everton about their unfilled managerial role on May 28, 2013 by Wigan chairman Dave Whelan. "He (Martinnez) believes he is not the man to lead us back to the Premier League," Whelan said. Bill Kenwright, the Everton chairman, had contacted him a week earlier for permission to speak with Marten if talks fell off, according to Whelan. Whelan said he gave permission "immediately," adding that he hoped Everton to pay compensation of around £2 million.

Everton announced Martnez as the club's 14th manager on Friday, after agreeing to a four-year deal. Everton has also agreed to Wigan a £1.5 million compensation package. Kenwright had interviewed three candidates within his organization, but Martnez was the only one who was approached while under contract with another club. Following the departures of several members of David Moyes' former backroom staff who followed him to Manchester United the same week, Martnez brought four members of his Wigan Athletic backroom team to Everton. Graeme Jones was named assistant manager, Ira Bergara was named as 'Head of Excellence,' and former England international footballer Kevin Reeves was appointed head scout. Martnez promised to qualify Everton to the UEFA Champions League.

Everton's first Premier League game in charge of the club was a 2–2 draw away to Norwich City on August 17th. On September 14, Martnez' first league victory as Everton's manager played against Chelsea. Martnez became the first ever boss of the club to prevent defeat in his first six games when Everton defeated West Ham United 32-0 in their next game. However, Fulham's win 2–1 in the third round of the League Cup did not last, as the team's next match was not successful.

Everton defeated Sunderland 1-0 in their fourth straight Premier League victory, bringing them their sixth straight Premier League win and giving them their fifth position tally with five games remaining. Everton defeated Goodison Park 2–0, making Martnez the first Everton boss since Harry Catterick in the 1969–70 season to win a league double over Manchester United. After the season came to an end, Martnez signed a new five-year deal.

Everton's 2014–15 campaign, despite finishing 5th in the previous season, was less fruitful. They had won just one of their last ten matches by March 2015. The Blues fell to 14th, six points above the relegation zone, after a 2–0 loss to Arsenal. Everton advanced to the semifinals of the Europa League, beating Young Boys 7–2 on aggregate. Martnez's team was still winless after losing by 5–2 to Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev.

Martnez was fired by the club on May 12th, who were 12th in the standings with just one game remaining. He had coached them into the semi-finals of both domestic cups this season, but fans had revolted against his leadership and demanded that they be fired.

Martnez joined the Belgium national team as coach on August 3, 2016, replacing Marc Wilmots. Belgium was defeated 2–0 in his first match in charge on September 1, 2016, despite his birth country Spain's absence in Brussels.

Martinez's Belgians were the first European side to advance from qualifying to the 2018 FIFA World Cup after beating Greece 2–1 in 2–1. His team won all group games and advanced to a 3–2 victory over Japan in the group stage. Belgium defeated Brazil 2–1 to advance to a semi-final against France, which they then lost 1–0. Belgium defeated England 2–0 in the third round play-off to earn their highest World Cup finish of all time.

Belgium rose to first place in the FIFA World Rankings in September 2018 and remained there in February 2021, without winning a single title in many years under Martez. He became the only boss to do so at the 2018 World Cup and in that tournament after winning the group at Euro 2020. In addition, he set the record for most Belgium victories in one spell as boss (46 from 49, compared to 45 in 114 for Guy Thys); Thys won four more in a second spell). However, he was unable to lead Belgium into the championship after the team suffered a humiliating 1–2 loss to Italy in the quarter-finals and was booted out of the tournament. Despite his success in the tournament, he remains Belgium's coach until the 2022 FIFA World Cup. After defeating Belarus in the qualifying phase of the 2022 World Cup, he became the coach with the most victories in the Belgian national team's history. He did a new feat on September 2021: Belgium's three-year tenure as the world's highest ranking leader.

Broadcasting career

Martnez served as a studio analyst for ESPN's coverage of the FIFA World Cup (2010 and 2014), the UEFA European Championship (2012 and 2016 editions), and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. He has also appeared on Sky Sports' Spanish football program Revista de la Liga as a regular guest. In addition,, he has appeared on Match of the Day on the BBC. Martinez was named as one of CBS Sports Network's UEFA Champions League coverage in July 2020.

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