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Tottenham shortlist ex-Wigan boss who wants Premier League return

Tottenham Hotspur shortlist an ex-Wigan Athletic boss who wants a Premier League return, according to reports emerging this week.

The former Latics boss Roberto Martinez is hoping to come back to English top flight football, with managerless Spurs putting him on their shortlist, according to reports.

The 47-year-old has a spell with Swansea City before he joined the Lancashire outfit in 2009, spending four years there and was in charge of 175 games, picking up a win percentage of 29.14.

He guided the club to FA Cup glory in 2013, before spending three years at Everton following his Wigan exit, then left and took charge of the Belgian national side who are now ranked number 1 in the world rankings.

Martinez has been praised for his work with Belgium, and all eyes are on how they perform at the Euros this summer, especially with reports claiming that Martinez would be ‘willing’ to return to the Premier League as his next job should he move on from the national team.

Martinez is under contract, though it wouldn’t be difficult for him to leave after the Euro 2020 finals this summer.

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He is said to have earned himself a trusted backroom staff who could take pre-season training at the North London outfit while he is with Belgium, something the rules allow.

He has worked with some impressive Belgian players such as Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, possibly something he could bring it to Tottenham should they splash the cash in the summer window. Though it’s Levy, so good luck with that one.

The chance to get back to daily involvement appeals to him.

As someone who plays a passing style admired by Spurs, they could be a good match with Levy looking at bringing in a coach to please fans, though judging by the fan reaction, it’s not gone down well.

 
 
 
 
 
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Interestingly, according to Sport/Foot Magazine in Belgium, Roberto Martinez has asked agent Pini Zahavi to find him a club job after the European Championships.

Zahavi knows Levy well, and with Spurs allegedly admiring Martinez, it’s conceivable that Zahavi will end up sending him there.

Martinez took charge of Belgium in 2016, guiding them to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, and they’re expected to be a contender for the European Championships too, though are not the favourites to win it.

Tottenham are also huge admirers of Leicester chief Brendan Rodgers, however the Foxes boss seemingly wants to stay where he is.

A potential bill of £70million  has scared off Levy with Spurs needing to offer a four-year contract of £12.5m a season, plus Leicester’s expected compensation demands of £20m.

MARTINEZ’ PLAYING CAREER:

Youth career
1982–1990 – Balaguer
1990–1992 – Zaragoza

Senior career
1991–1993 – Zaragoza B – 43 games (4 goals)
1993–1994 – Zaragoza – 1 game (0 goals)
1994–1995 – Balaguer – 19 games (2 goals)
1995–2001 – Wigan Athletic – 187 games (17 goals)
2001–2002 – Motherwell – 16 games (0 goals)
2002–2003 – Walsall – 6 games (0 goals)
2003–2006 – Swansea City – 122 games (4 goals)
2006–2007 – Chester City – 31 games (3 goals)
Total – 425 games (30 goals)

MANAGERIAL RECORD:

Swansea City – 25 February 2007 until 15 June 2009 – 125 games, 63 wins, 37 draws, 25 defeats, 50.40 win %
Wigan Athletic – 15 June 2009 until 5 June 2013 – 175 games, 51 wins, 47 draws, 77 defeats, 29.14 win %
Everton – 5 June 2013 until 12 May 2016 – 143 games, 61 wins, 39 draws, 43 defeats, 42.66 win %
Belgium – 3 August 2016 until Present – 54 games, 42 wins, 8 draws, 4 defeats, 77.78 win %
Total – 497 games, 217 wins, 131 draws, 149 defeats, 43.66 win %

HONOURS:

Player

Real Zaragoza
Copa del Rey: 1993–94

Wigan Athletic
Football League Third Division: 1996–97
Football League Trophy: 1998–99

Swansea City
Football League Trophy: 2005–06

Individual
PFA Team of the Year: 1995–96 Third Division, 1996–97 Third Division

Manager

Swansea City
League One: 2007–08

Wigan Athletic
FA Cup: 2012–13

Belgium
FIFA World Cup: 2018 (third place)

Individual
League One Manager of the Year: 2007–08
Football League One Manager of the Month: October 2007
Premier League Manager of the Month: April 2012
LMA FA Cup Manager of the Year: 2012–13
Belgian Sports Coach of the Year: 2018
FIFA Men’s Coach nomination: 2018

Fans reacted with Tottenham choosing to shortlist the ex-Wigan boss who wants a Premier League return…

@MattTHFC__: Please not Roberto Martinez fml

@Only1Flicks: He’s not a bad shout now Ajax have fxcked us over!

@Rory4Spurs: God I hope not

@SpursCompendium: I expect he does fancy it. But surely we aren’t that stupid. I’ve a bad feeling we like him though.

@andy_kilbs: Im done, if he joins…

@mhewstone: Not good enough

@Pxl_unix: As a belgian i can say he is decent.

@officiallsk: Absolutely no idea why Spurs would consider him given he’s achieved nothing with an incredible Belgium side. No thanks. #COYS #THFC

@is_closers: nice bloke but i dont think he’d be able to do much with the…ahem….”mixed” bag of talent that Spurs have. History also tells us those ENIC tightwads can’t/won’t back him much in the transfer market anyway.

@banterhotspur: I’d take Dyche over him any day. Please no.

@spursline: Terrible manager , I’d rather scott parker or potter and i’m not even a big fan of theses two

@billytheyido: Brilliant at Wigan, very poor at Everton. Possibly deserves another chance but its a no from me.

@THSpursMad: Oh great cheaper option for that idiot Levy to cause further issues to the club with. Martinez struggled with Everton. Our team has more problems and more characters than Everton for him to struggle with @SpursOfficial @lazqetjohnson

@D_avidMatthews: would love to see this – not least for the contrived post match interviews

@AdlerSussudio: No thanks, he was pretty poor at Everton

@nickcowell1: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no #COYS #THFC

@reocoaker: This would be a ‘burn your season ticket’ appointment

@RaphaelJoory: well we lost nagelsmann and now ten hag, doesn’t matter who we choose to be our next manager, it’s going to be a shit show anyway

@_JoeGTHFC: Not only do I not rate him but we need someone who can come in and get to work right away, start evaluating the players, what they want to do with the squad, etc. Should be steering clear of the international managers.

@JBlincoTHFC: I’m done if this happens. ENIC and Levy have drained everything out of Tottenham. This will be the final nail in the coffin. I’m not sure who is worse, him or Southgate ffs

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