Martinez: Everton was three seasons, not six months

Matt Stead

Roberto Martinez insists his “achievements” at Everton should stand the test of time despite his eventual demise.

Martinez was appointed Toffees manager in summer 2013, spending three seasons at the club before parting ways in 2016.

They finished fifth with a club-record points haul in his first season, but came 11th in two subsequent disappointing seasons.

Now Belgium head coach, the 43-year-old is open in reminiscing about his time at Goodison Park.

“As managers, it’s part of the job,” he told the Daily Mail of the complaints which marred his final few months. “I keep the memories and my achievements stand. I look at Everton as the full three seasons, not the last six months.

“We got 72 points in the first season, we were the last English team to be knocked out of Europe in my second and made two semi-finals in the domestic cups in my third.

“We were defensively very poor in my last season. There were a lot of defensive duties we didn’t execute properly. I don’t deny we conceded too many goals. But when I arrived at Everton we had the same budget as Aston Villa and Fulham — they both went down.

“I’m proud of Tom Davies and his breakthrough this season. We gave him his debut. As a manager, you know you won’t personally feel the most benefit when taking chances on young players, but we have a responsibility.”