Premier League - Martinez gets Wigan job

Eurosport - Tue, 16 Jun 10:25:00 2009

Wigan Athletic named Roberto Martinez as their new manager after the Premier League club agreed compensation terms with his former club Swansea City.

FOOTBALL Swansea Roberto Martinez - 0

Wigan said the 35-year-old Spaniard had agreed a three-year deal to replace Steve Bruce who left the club to take over at Sunderland at the start of the month.

Martinez, one of the most highly-regarded young managers in the English game after guiding Swansea to the Championship in his first full season, should have been in place last week before a hitch involving his Swansea backroom staff who will join him at Wigan.

Martinez made his name in English football as a player when he joined Wigan in 1995 along with compatriots Jesus Seba and Isidro Diaz. He made 226 appearances in six years.

"I had a great time here as a player and the club is close to my heart," Martinez told Wigan's official website.

"I am looking forward to getting stuck in and taking on teams in the best league in the world."

Martinez took Swansea to within touching distance of the promotion play-offs last season, earning many plaudits for their eye-catching brand of football.

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said a compensation agreement had been reached for Martinez, assistant manager Graeme Jones, chief scout Kevin Reeves and goalkeeping coach Inaki Bergara.

"I don't think either club are totally happy with the compensation figure agreed for the backroom staff," he told his club's website.

"But I think both clubs realised that this matter needed to be concluded so that we can all move on."

Reuters

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

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  1. (No2) I understand where you are coming from but Wigan­ will have to be in the premiership for another 10 Years­ before any serious manager comes along and as far as­ players goes Wigan can only hope that Martinez can use­ his conatacts to get us some decent spanish players.
    I­ am a Wigan Athletic Fan but I am a realistic one and­ that is we are about to lose one of the greatest­ Wingers in the premiership so what makes you think we­ can attract a top flight manager.
    Wigan are doing a­ great job at the moment and I just hope that Whelan­ stands by his word and starts spending, because we have­ been in the Premiership long enough now to start­ spending and push to go higher in the league.
    When­ Wigan got promoted to the premiership everybody thought­ that we would go straight back down. Yet today five­ years in the premiership and people still think we are­ still a joke.
    What is needed is for Wigan to beat Man U­ and Liverpool and chelsea and then we will be taken­ more seriously.

    From anthony m, on Tue 16 Jun 1:22PM

  2. i hope Swansea keep moving in the right direction.­ I'll never forget how great their fans were when i­ watched Fulham get relegated after playing away there a­ good few years ago. Friendly and compassionate for our­ predicament. Good luck next season

    From pfy1101, on Tue 16 Jun 9:17AM

  3. To Taff No.5 - Leighton James?? It could get a lot­ worse, pal. I heard a rumour yesterday that Toshack is­ interested.......

    From rob n, on Tue 16 Jun 9:08AM

  4. C'mon Martinez tell whelan no to Valencia going­ start as you mean to go on.

    From anthony m, on Tue 16 Jun 7:02AM

  5. What great news , this will certainly have a positive­ affect on the club !!!

    From www.gmsport.co.uk, on Tue 16 Jun 1:48AM

  6. WIGAN bigger than celtic they may be if mowbury does­ not lead them into Champions league group stages.

    From iancampbell11, on Mon 15 Jun 11:36PM

  7. Good luck to him, he took the money and ran but hey oh­ who doesnt these days just hope the wigan board stick­ with him if it doesnt start good. As for a new swansea­ manager i dont no.. coppell would be my choice!!

    From e.brown48, on Mon 15 Jun 9:36PM

  8. He took the money and ran, as they all will do in this­ crazy game. Unfortunately Swansea will now struggle,­ but they could get Leighton James who wants the job for­ peanuts. That will crack you up.

    From taff, on Mon 15 Jun 9:26PM

  9. this has gone on long enough fair play to hew bout time­ a club stood up to prem clubs like this lets hope that­ they get a good manager and get into prem and beat­ wigan and show martinez what hes missing ,,be good to­ see wigan get relegated lol gunner for life respect for­ swansea go for it

    From OLIVER, on Mon 15 Jun 7:46PM

  10. THANK GOD THIS IS NEARLY SORTED WE CAN NOW MOVE ON­ AND FIND A NEW MANAGER..
    'SWANSEA TILL I DIE'

    From gibbostantrums, on Mon 15 Jun 7:42PM

  11. Wigan seem to be going round in circles, we need a­ manager with good experiance to keep and gain good­ talent to get us into europe, its not impossible, we­ need a big name manager, sure its fantastic so see one­ of the "amigo's" back at wigan, but maybe­ as an assistant to a bigger and more promulant gaffer.

    From CHRISTOPHER P, on Mon 15 Jun 7:40PM

  12. Another promising manager who is going to be sacked­ before christmas. Same thing happened to paul Ince. He­ is good but not good enough for the premiership yet

    From Raimo K, on Mon 15 Jun 6:55PM
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