Roberto Martinez has decided not to pursue a new challenge in the Premier League with Aston Villa, Martinez has instead agreed to sign an extension to his existing contract which will see him remain at the helm of Wigan for 3 more years. Dave Whelan the Wigan chairman had granted Aston Villa permission to speak to Martinez regarding the vacant managerial position that had become available following Gerard Houllier’s serious illness, but Martinez surprisingly refused the offer and after series of meetings with his Chairman this week has now decided to commit his future to the DW club.
Martinez will enter his third-season in charge at Wigan, upon the commencement of the new Premier League Season. Martinez now has his sights firmly set on moving Wigan from perennial strugglers in the Premier League, to a consistent force and a side capable of finishing in the top half of the Premier League.
Martinez has shown unmatched loyalty to Wigan and his Chairman to remain at the small provincial club. He is of course a former player for the latics from 1995-2001, during this spell Martinez enjoyed the best days of his football career in the lower reaches of the football league with Wigan. Dave Whelan outlined his ambitious plans for Premier League football and with the help of the famous Three Amigos, Roberto Martinez, Isidro Diaz and Jesus Seba; Wigan began their assent to the top table of English football (The Premier League).
Following a successful spell in charge with Swansea City, Martinez saw the club gain promotion to the Championship for the first time in 24 years. After witnessing the impact Martinez had on The Swans, Dave Whelan would take a gamble and give Martinez, untried at the highest level, the opportunity to cut his managerial teeth in the Premier League with some of the best and brightest minds currently operating in world football.
During his first two seasons as manager at the club Martinez adopted a brand of football previously unseen under the stewardship of previous managers in charge at the DW. The direct physical approach was not in Martinez game plan; instead Martinez changed the philosophy of the club on how to play the beautiful game. Martinez put faith in his players to play a passing game with a licence to express and believe in their teammate’s ability to get results playing the right way.
Playing such an open expansive game is a breath of fresh air in the current climate of negative tactics, direct play or long ball teams which can be effective but has become an all too common occurrence, we get from teams at the foot of the table fighting for their Premier League lives and even some teams battling for a Champions League Birth (Manchester City anyone).