ROBERTO MARTINEZ has spoken to the media ahead of tonight’s friendly between Scotland and Belgium at Hampden Park and revealed he could have become the Celtic manager back in 2009.
After Gordon Strachan left his post, Celtic were looking about for a new manager and spoke with several candidates. At the time Martinez’ name came up alongside Owen Coyle who just got his Burnley side promoted.
The Spaniard managed Swansea at the time and asked for permission to talk to the club about the vacant position.
The current Belgium boss doesn’t suggest he was offered the post but he felt once Wigan came calling – a team he had a history with, he had to go there.
“I had conversations and I was always very impressed with the need to bring silverware,” he said.
“But at that time I had to go back to where I started my career in the UK and where I started my coaching career at Wigan.
“The opportunity of having conversations with Celtic is something that fills you with pride.
“It is a club with great tradition and a club that demands qualification in the Champions League. You can appreciate the status of the football club.”
After an exhaustive search – Celtic appointed Tony Mowbray as the new Celtic manager. An ill-fated time in the club’s history with the manager getting the boot before the season had finished.
From there Celtic went on to appoint coach Neil Lennon as interim manager then gave him the job on a full time basis.
