January 17, (THEWILL) – Everton have made initial contact with the Belgian Football Association about the possibility of Belgium boss Roberto Martinez returning to the club.
With the World Cup in Qatar in November, Belgium is hesitant to lose the Spaniard, 48, and believes they will be able to keep him.
Martinez is a strong possibility to succeed Rafael Benitez, who was sacked by the Toffees on Sunday. From 2013 to 2016, Martinez was manager of Everton but in August 2016, he was named Belgium manager, and the team finished third in the 2018 World Cup.
Not only is he also the national team’s technical director but Belgium, the world’s best team with him in charge, is one of the favourites to win the World Cup this year.
The Belgian FA will therefore definitely dismiss the proposition of losing Martinez outright, and a clean end-of-season break is also unlikely, given that the World Cup will be held in Qatar in November and December rather than in the summer.
But, Martinez retains support within Everton’s boardroom despite being the first of five managers fired by current owner Farhad Moshiri after three seasons in charge. Martinez was fired in May 2016 after three seasons in charge.
The Catalan may also have a soft spot for Everton and believes he still has unfinished business at Goodison Park. He is one of a number of possibilities being considered as Everton try to move on from Benitez’s ill-fated and toxic tenure, which ended with fan outrage and protests during and after Saturday’s 2-1 loss to struggling Norwich City.
After his controversial choice of former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, Moshiri may find it difficult to propose Martinez to the club. THEWILL recalls that Martinez’s successful debut season in which Everton finished fifth, was just as Benitez, subjected to protesters and banners calling for his resignation.
Former Everton striker Wayne Rooney, who has been doing a fantastic job against the odds at Derby County, is another name mentioned as a possible target, while the name of former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has also been mentioned.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
