Roberto Martinez 1 yr on.

[Jack]

If ever a football team is the embodiment of their manager it is Swansea City.

Roberto Martinez boasts style and substance in equal measure.

The Spaniard celebrates one year at the Liberty Stadium helm on Friday and the suave coach has certainly got his team playing in his image.

"It has taken me 13 years to see a team that I'd love to play in," said Martinez.

"And now I can't get a game!"

"Playing is the best thing in football, but when I took over at Swansea I knew I couldn't play and manage if I was to do the job properly.

"Anyway, such is the strength in depth at Swansea - especially in my old position of central midfield - I wouldn't get in the team!"

The Swans, like their supremo, have shown they have an iron fist inside their velvet glove since Martinez quit playing to replace Kenny Jackett at the Liberty 12 months ago.

The Welsh club have dazzled the division with their champagne football but can crucially kill off opponents with clinical composure.

Going into Friday night's home game against Luton Town, the League One leaders are 14 points clear of third-placed Nottingham Forest.

Only a crisis stands between Swansea's return to the second tier of English football following a 24-year absence.

Swansea are the top-scorers and boast the second meanest defence in League One.

The Swans are unbeaten in 16 league games and should that extend to 20, Martinez would have supervised Swansea to their finest league run in the club's history.

Martinez has presided over 34 wins in 55 Swansea games, losing just nine.

Such a record over the last year compares with managerial greats Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger - and that is not bad for a guy in his first year of management.

Martinez's appointment last year, though, was a risk for both senor and Swansea.

Failure would have seriously endangered former captain Martinez's iconic status at the club and the reputation of a Swansea board who were gambling on a rookie.

Neither should have worried.

Martinez may look like Mr Nice Guy but just ask Swansea's players about his ruthless streak.

His rigorous training regime and strict dietary guidelines have improved fitness and allowed Martinez's team to play in the quick and slick tempo he demands.


Perhaps Martinez's biggest call was sanctioning the £1m sale of talismanic striker Lee Trundle to Bristol City.

The decision to sell such a fans' favourite sent out a clear warning to Swansea's stars that no one was indispensable in his team.

Martinez's astute additions of lynchpin Ferrie Bodde, goalkeeper Dorus De Vries, top-scorer Jason Scotland and on-loan winger Paul Anderson have meant Trundle has not been missed.

"My year has been full of pure enjoyment," admitted Martinez.

"The key is that I've surrounded myself with the right players and the right backroom staff and have been supported by the board.

"Success doesn't come easy in football, you have to work extremely hard but when you love the football club then you enjoy hard work.

"What pleases me is that we play with such style, as the work we did in pre-season comes to fruition.

"We rely on the talent of our players and all I want them to do is enjoy their football.

"Then they pass on that enjoyment to myself and our fans."

Martinez toasts exactly a year in charge on Friday against Luton.

But don't expect any celebrations until the city slickers confirm their promotion party booking.

"I don't want to assess the year I've had in charge now," maintained Martinez.

"The time to assess things is at the end of the season, as that is when we'll have a clear picture on how well we've done."

Should Martinez's first full managerial season end successfully, don't expect Martinez to pop the champagne corks...he's teetotal.



ROBERTO MARTINEZ FACTFILE

Born: 13 July, 1973
From: Balaguer, Catalonia
Managerial record:
P 55, W34, D12, L9
Playing career: CF Balaguer, Real Zaragoza, Wigan Athletic, Motherwell , Walsall, Swansea City, Chester City
Did You Know?: Martinez was the first Spaniard to score in the FA Cup

[Rufc89]

Not bad, was his first game against us? i know it was one of the first games becuase i was talking to a couple of your fans and they wanted him sacked lol

but he has done a great job at the club, hope he keeps it up for you
and hope robins does the same for us

[btrev1]

he has done a good job but he learn ed every think he knows from his time at walsall

[RedRedRobinSTFC]

The Championship may be a different kettle of fish me thinks ...