Everton have given Roberto Martinez a £10 million pay off.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez
Everton have settled a pay off with manager Roberto Martinez worth £10 million after firing him at the end of last season.
This was due to handing him a protected contract which entitled both parties to high compensation should one break it.
The Mail report Everton agreed this contract with Martinez originally as they were desperate to secure his services, and feared he would leave the club for Tottenham.
The report states: “It was concern about losing him — at the time the Spaniard was a contender for the vacant position at Tottenham, as well as attracting interest for the England job — that persuaded chairman Bill Kenwright to agree a deal that protected both the club and Martinez.”
Everton manager Roberto Martinez and Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp
Martinez was manager of Wigan Athletic prior to joining Everton in 2013, and had led the Latics to a shock FA Cup victory.
His first season at Everton went so well, that Everton saw fit to reward Martinez with the five-year deal, amid concerns Spurs could poach him away to replace Tim Sherwood.
In May 2014, The Times reported Spurs wanted to make an approach for Martinez, having been rejected by Louis van Gaal who joined Manchester United.
Martinez admitted, speaking to The Metro, the rumours were a compliment to the positive direction he was taking Everton in, but the Toffees were taking no chances, and handed him a big new contract extension just a year after employing him.
Tottenham ended up with manager Mauricio Pochettino
Everton fans may now wish they had let him go, with two disappointing seasons following, while Spurs seemed to have had not just one lucky escape with Van Gaal, but another potentially with Martinez, lucking out by choosing Mauricio Pochettino instead.
The former Southampton boss has been an excellent appointment for Spurs, while Everton have since hired his successor Ronald Koeman.
The net result of their panic was the £10 million pay off which will head Martinez’s way, which is a huge amount for any individual to earn, especially one who has quickly found employment as the coach of Belgium’s national team.
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