Roberto Martinez: Everton appoint former Wigan manager
Last updated on .From the section Football
Everton have appointed Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez as their new manager on a four-year contract.
The 39-year-old Spaniard won the FA Cup at Wigan this season, but asked to leave the DW Stadium after failing to keep them in the Premier League.
He succeeds David Moyes, who takes over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United after 11 years at Goodison Park.
Martinez will be officially presented as Everton manager at a news conference at 16:00 BST.
Wigan said in a statement: "Roberto's influence at the club, both as a player and manager, an association that spanned over a decade, will remain unforgettable to all Latics' fans.
"The club would like to place on record its appreciation for his tireless work during that time, culminating in FA Cup glory last month at Wembley Stadium."
Martinez made 180 appearances as a player for Wigan between 1995 and 2001 before returning as manager eight years later.
Under him, Wigan finished 16th twice and in 15th place before slipping to relegation this season.
In June 2011, he was a target for Aston Villa but opted to stay at the DW Stadium. He was also strongly linked with the Liverpool job last summer.
Martinez, who was hired by Wigan after taking Swansea City from League One to the Championship, announced last month that he would leave the Latics after four years at the helm.
Whelan said on Monday that he had agreed a deal with his Everton counterpart Bill Kenwright to allow the under-contract Martinez to leave.
The Spaniard takes charge of an Everton team which recently finished sixth in the Premier League.
The Toffees have secured a top-eight finish in each of their last seven campaigns.
Former Everton winger Pat Nevin told BBC Radio 5 live that Martinez will be judged a success at Goodison Park if he can maintain the club's current position.
He said: "The realism is, if he does as well as Moyes, he would have done a brilliant job. Moyes has maximised the potential of that club.
"Can he do better than that with their finances? He must roughly finish fifth or sixth, which isn't easy, and he will want to do it in a special way.
"Everton like a cultured game of football, so he will be welcomed. He does have one thing on his CV which Moyes hasn't got though, and [that] is a trophy."
With Martinez's exit from Wigan confirmed, Whelan told BBC Radio Jersey that he will begin speaking to candidates to succeed the Spaniard shortly.
"Obviously, I am now free to look and interview managers because I have to fill the vacancy," he said. "I am in Jersey now for four days, and when I get back, I have to get that vacancy filled within one week.
"I have had over 30 applications from some great men. I am excited about interviewing them.
"It is not an easy job to appoint a manager. Hopefully, I will get the right man, and Wigan will get the right result, and we will fight our way back to the Premier League."
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He is by no means certain to be to success, but I really hope people give him a chance.
9.LFC - Best in Europe ....Youre not even the best in Liverpool!!! Look at the league positions!!! And I wouldn't bet on Suarez even being in the Prem.....Youll Never Win Again!!
Ignore some of the WUMs - he'll do a decent job at Everton - his principles are good and he sets his teams up to play good, attacking football.Would have preferred him to BR.Admittedly he scraped by each season with Wigan but he has more trophies to show than BR and more experience in his own right as a manager, and he isn't constantly impressing on us what a genius he is.
Can't see them finishing above the 6th place they got last season but will be a good platform to build on.
Also BBC, when a post goes past -10 delete it, get rid of these trolls
You never know if an appointment will be good or not but this move seems full of opportunity, for Everton and RM alike. Moyes will be hard to follow - MU have themselves a top man there. But RM's shown the potential to be a v good manager, given more ££. Though Everton aren't plush they've deeper pockets than Wigan.
How will RM do?
Only time will tell. I for one hope he does well.
This could be a very good signing if he keeps the defence tight and brings in more attacking play.
Please not Lescott. Please!
We need Papadopoulos. He is a descendent of the Spartans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkLJQu-fHw8
They're a total embaressment, completely blinded to fact by their loyalty to the club.
I wish Martinez good luck. A solid manager who, with a good club like Everton, could go places.
(From a Liverpool fan).
Very impressed LFC fan here!
Good luck. I hope you continue to build on the stability of the past 11 years and bring in some welcomed silverware.
you'll come good ignor the gloom mungers
from a Man.City supporter
1. retain current players
2. attract decent players
3. top half finish
If he ticks all those boxes he'll have done well. Yes I know they normally finish top 8, but you have to give a little for first season settling in.
Think you may well have a point.
Suppose they need something to keep themselves occupied during the ad break in the middle of Jeremy Kyle.
Socialist77, I'm a Liverpool fanbut unlike you I believe the FA Cup is a serious COMPETITION which cannot be won by luck alone. By all means be positive but statements like 'easily win the league' and 'Everton relegated' make you sound just a little bit silly.
United do suck though. ;)