Everton are interested in re-hiring Belgium boss Roberto Martinez with his contract due to end in December. So, who played with Ross Barkley in the Spaniard’s first XI back in 2013?
Martinez spent three years in the hot seat at Goodison Park from June 2013 to May 2016. But Farhad Moshiri fired the 49-year-old just three months after he first bought shares in the club. The Toffees acted having won just five Premier League games at home that season.
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David Unsworth would oversee a 3-0 win over Norwich City as Everton’s interim boss. But the result only moved the Merseyside outfit up to 11th in the table. Martinez had secured a fifth-place finish in his debut season at the helm, which remains their best since 2008/09.
Ronald Koeman replaced Martinez at Goodison but only lasted 16 months in charge. Sam Allardyce then saw out the rest of the 2017/18 season before Marco Silva (May ‘18 – Dec ‘19), Carlo Ancelotti (Dec ‘19 – June 2021) and Rafa Benitez (June ‘21 – Jan ‘22) took over.
Frank Lampard replaced Benitez in the host seat this January and guided Everton to safety. But after finishing last season in 16th place with a four-point gap over the relegation zone, the Toffees only rank 16th following the first 14 fixtures of this campaign after three wins.
Everton are interested in re-hiring Martinez with his Belgium contract expiring
Now, Het Belang van Limburg reports Everton are interested in re-hiring Martinez with his contract as Belgium’s manager due to expire after the 2022 Qatar World Cup in December. The Toffees are keeping tabs on the Spaniard as he is in no hurry to decide his future yet.
Martinez’s deal with the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) expires on December 1. Yet some of the officials within the RBFA still view the 2012/13 FA Cup winner with Wigan Athletic as the right man to oversee their project. Talks are also underway over a new deal.
Those in the RBFA who support Martinez staying do not want to wait to see how the 2022 World Cup plays out. The Spaniard is also not against staying on in the role he took up just three months after Everton fired him. But he wants assurances they will not change his role.
Martinez also wants the RBFA to retain his technical team, which is unlikely to emerge as an issue. So, the question is whether he only stays for Euro 2024 in Germany or also until the next World Cup in 2026. The United States of America, Mexico and Canada will host it.
So, with Everton taking an interest in re-hiring Martinez whilst his contract as Belgium’s manager is set to expire on December 31, HITC Football looks back at his first Toffees XI…
Tim Howard (GK): Martinez started the American in his first XI at Everton
Martinez started Tim Howard in goal when naming his first XI in charge of Everton away at Norwich. The Canaries held the Toffees to a 2-2 draw at Carrow Road on August 17, 2013. The match marked one of Howard’s 414 for Everton in all competitions from 2006 to 2016.
Seamus Coleman (RB): The Everton captain scored and assisted at Norwich
Seamus Coleman put Everton ahead at Carrow Road in August 2013 as Everton came from behind in Martinez’s first match in charge. He had also laid on the assist for their equaliser. The 34-year-old joined Everton in 2009, is now their captain and has played in 392 games.
Phil Jagielka (CB): Former Toffees captain is still going strong at 40 years old
Phil Jagielka is now 40 years old but is still going strong after signing with Stoke City in the Championship in January. The centre-back spent 12 years with Everton from 2007 to 2019 before returning to Sheffield United after 385 games. He also joined Derby County in 2021.
Sylvain Distin (CB): Martinez showed the Frenchman the door in 2015
Martinez showed Sylvain Distin the door whilst the Belgium boss was in charge at Everton. The French centre-back left Goodison Park after six seasons and 210 appearances as a free agent in June 2015. AFC Bournemouth took advantage of his exit to secure a Bosman deal.
Leighton Baines (CB): The Everton icon is now the club’s U18 manager
Leighton Baines is an Everton icon and was one of the Premier League’s best left-backs. He enjoyed 420 appearances for the Merseyside team between his arrival from Wigan in 2007 and retiring in 2020. He started working as the Toffees’ U18 manager during this summer.
Ross Barkley (CDM): The Nice star drew Everton level in Martinez’s first game
Barkley drew Everton level after Steven Whittaker put Norwich ahead in Martinez’s debut as Everton’s manager. The 33-cap England ace had emerged from the Toffees’ academy in 2011. He went on to play 179 times before joining Chelsea in 2018 and OGC Nice this year.
Leon Osman (CDM): The Everton product played his final game in Martinez’s last
Leon Osman played the final match of a 13-year career in Everton’s last game before firing Martinez. The Toffees product enjoyed his debut in 2003 and went on to register 433 first-team appearances. Unsworth opted to leave the midfielder on the bench against Norwich.
Kevin Mirallas (RM): The former Belgium star is now playing in Cyprus at 35
Kevin Mirallas now plies his trade in Cyprus after joining AEL Limassol this July. The 60-cap Belgian has spent time in his native country, Turkey and Portugal since leaving Everton in 2019. He left Goodison Park after 38 goals, 35 assists and 186 appearances in seven years.
Marouane Fellaini (CAM): Martinez sold the Belgian late on deadline day in 2013
Marouane Fellaini only made four of his 177 appearances for Everton under Martinez. He left the Merseyside club late on deadline day in August 2013 to reunite with David Moyes at Manchester United for £27.5m. Six years later, he joined SD Luneng and is still in China.
Steven Pienaar (LM): The former Everton star is now Ajax’s assistant U18 boss
Steven Pienaar enjoyed two spells at Everton after initially joining from 2007 to 2011 and returning from 2012 to 2016. He featured more often for the Toffees with 229 games for 26 goals and 48 assists than at any club the now-Ajax assistant U18 boss ever played for.
Nikica Jelavic (ST): Martinez started the Croatian in his first XI at Everton
Martinez started Nikica Jelavic at striker in the Belgium boss’ first XI in charge at Everton in 2013. The Croatian had moved to Merseyside under Moyes from Rangers in January 2012 and stayed at the club until 2014. Martinez sold him to Hull City after 21 goals in 69 games.
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