Everton manager Roberto Martinez has paid tribute to predecessor David Moyes for the groundwork laid by the Scot.
The Catalan coach arrived at Goodison Park a year ago having lifted the FA Cup with unfancied Wigan Athletic, and has quickly made his mark on Merseyside.
Playing a brand of football that has seemingly revitalised the club and its supporters following 11 seasons under Moyes' stewardship, the Toffees secured a fifth-place finish and return to European action for the first time in four years.
Added to that was the small matter of doing the double over Moyes’ Manchester United; the 1-0 victory at Old Trafford their first there in 21 years.
The return fixture also proved to be an unwelcome milestone for the Scot, a 2-0 April defeat at Goodison ending his brief spell in charge of the 20-time champions.
But Martinez only has good things to say about the man who put in place a continuity that has helped the Spaniard take his managerial career to the next level.
Speaking exclusively in the September 2014 issue of FourFourTwo, he says: “There was a real continuity with the previous management team. In 11 years in charge they brought a lot of success in terms of building something strong.
“I didn’t want to lose that; I wanted to keep it, but also use some of the things from the history of the club. In the 1980s – even before that – we were the ones setting an example to world football. We want to get that mojo back.”
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A man with a vision for the long term future of Everton rather than short-term success, could he foresee himself usurping Moyes’ 11 years at the helm?
“You never know in football, but I do enjoy building football clubs,” says the former Wigan midfielder who spent four years in charge at the DW Stadium.
“I believe the way a manager should manage and build a football club is for the long term – you need to manage the football club like you’re going to be there forever.”
Read the full interview with Roberto Martinez in the September 2014 issue of FourFourTwo, which includes a One-on-One chat with Julian Dicks, reveals the truth behind parachute payments, counts down the best, worst, controversial and painful goal celebrations and hears the incredible story of Prisoners of War in Germany finding freedom – some literally – through football. And if that’s not enough for you, there’s our 116-page Season Preview supplement covering 128 teams in England and across Europe. Available now in print and in a specially-designed-for-iPad version.
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Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.
