The 15 key Roberto Martinez moments that shaped Swansea City's remarkable futureChris Wathan looks back on the reign and methods of Martinez which are still credited for Swansea City's continued success today
Roberto Martinez returns to the Liberty this weekend with six years having now passed since he controversially quit the club for Wigan.
But, as he prepares to bring Everton to his old stamping ground, there can be no doubt the imprint Martinez made on his former club still lives on.
El Gaffer's former captain, Garry Monk, is the fourth man to have stepped into Martinez's old seat in the dug-out since his departure for Wigan in 2009, with the likes of Paulo Sousa, Brendan Rodgers, Michael Laudrup and now Monk himself all making their own mark on shaping the Swansea City that welcome the Toffees while sitting in eighth place in the Premier League.
But they have all, to differing degrees, built on the philosophical foundations laid by the man who went from survival-securing midfielder to masterminding the Swanselona legacy.
Here, Football Correspondent CHRIS WATHAN, looks at some of the key moments of the Martinez reign that had a huge say on forging the future success of the club.
Paco's PartMartinez's initial arrival as a player was something of a coup for then manager Brian Flynn in January 2003, persuading the Walsall playmaker to drop down a division and help a team rooted in a relegation battle and with their Football League life at stake. Aside from his obvious skill alongside other loan stars Leon Britton, Alan Tate and Neil Cutler, his leadership helped bond a squad that had been overhauled by Flynn in a short space of time.
One of the key moves was his insistence on players dining together after training at a Swansea Spanish restaurant called Paco's, helping forming a bond and a togetherness needed to pull through one of the most difficult times of the club's on-the-field history. Despite being tee-total, Martinez would also be a regular on players' nights out and bring a balanced discipline so that the enjoyment came with a reminder that there was work to be done. The kind of spirit developed there has shone through ever since.
Swansea City v Hull May 2003
Bringing in 'Bonner'Taking a call on the Chester team bus from Huw Jenkins, Martinez wasted little time getting off and leaving his playing days behind to return to South Wales and replace Kenny Jackett. One of the first calls Martinez made after speaking to the Swans chairman was to his old Wigan teammate Graeme Jones. Then assistant manager at Hamilton Academical, 'Bonner' was a huge hit with his hands-on coaching role that worked perfectly with Martinez's innovative ideas while also had the kind of steel needed to ensure players responded to the new way of working. Highly respected by the players, his influence was underlined by several attempts by Swansea to offer him the manager's role after Martinez's, Sousa's and Rodgers' departures.
Beaten by BlackpoolAfter taking charge in March 2007, Martinez picked up enough early points to give Swansea a shot of the play-offs going into the final day. Swansea needed other results to go their way as well as a potential four-goal win over promotion-chasing Blackpool at home. Swansea lost 6-3 in a see-saw game that marked an impressive first league outing from a teenage Joe Allen with Blackpool going on to win the play-offs. While a small blow, defeat allowed Martinez to build his passing game in League One which may not have been as easy a transition in the Championship. History was to repeat three years later when Sousa's side lost out to the Tangerines for a place in the top-six, paving the way for the Portuguese's exit and Rodgers' arrival who made his own huge mark on the clib's future success.
Kevin Reeves' Easyjet JourneysMartinez made the most of former coach Kevin Reeves' experience and contacts in the game by employing him as his chief scout, but the new willingness to look abroad for talent was aided by the fact Reeves' wife worked for a low-cost airline. With discounted tickets in hand, Reeves made a number of trips to the Spanish lower leagues where one trip to watch a striker saw a full-back on the opposite side catch is eye. One £15,000 fee later and Angel Rangel was on his way to iconic status at the Liberty.
Angel Rangel in September 2007
Selling Lee TrundleMartinez had been conducting an interview where he was pointing out the importance of fan favourite and cult hero Lee Trundle to his plans going into his first full season. As he walked out, chairman Huw Jenkins revealed the £1m bid from newly promoted Championship side Bristol City that eventually saw the outrageously skilled Scouser on his way. Having been looking to pair Trundle and new signing Jason Scotland, the blow of losing the team's talisman forced Martinez to think again with the team eventually adopting the 4-2-3-1 formation that few other sides – if any – in the UK were prepared to play.
Finding Ferrie BoddeHe was described as the Dutch Roy Keane when Bodde signed from sister club ADO Den Haag but it's doubtful the Manchester United great could play a pass like the Evil Genius. He added a ruthless edge to the eye-pleasing style but his ability to switch play and slide passes between defenders was a key cutting edge as Swansea looked to impose their new style.
Simply too good for League One and even the Championship during his few months of action there, Bodde is still regarded as one of the club's finest players and it is one of the great regrets the cruel injury blows denied him a chance of the Premier League stage his talent deserved.
Bodde was key for the Swans before suffering the cruciate knee injury in November 2008
Warren Feeney's Significance Part IA surprise loan signing from bitter rivals Cardiff where he had not pulled up trees in front of goal, Northern Irishman Feeney – whose grandfather had also played for Swansea – made one of the most important contributions of the Martinez era. Having been booed the previous weekend after a 0-0 draw with Brighton as the new way of playing had its teething problems, ex-Bluebird Christian Roberts' equalising goal in the midweek home match with Swindon threatened to undermine efforts to play their way out of the division. Yet Feeney struck with 15 minutes remaining to earn a key victory and play a huge role in reminding players and fans that possession football may take its time to break teams down. Players formed a huddle at the end of the match vowing to keep faith with the football, Leyton Orient were blown away 5-0 in the next fixture and the rest is history.
Warren Feeney
Warren Feeney's Significance Part IISwansea had trialled the solo striker in a Football League Trophy win over Wycombe but had stuck to the traditional two up top set-up through the late autumn. Yet an early red card for Feeney in a home match with Gillingham prompted Martinez to use the 4-2-3-1 rather than use Daryl Duffy with Scotland in the subsequent games, almost unheard of in the lower leagues. It came with mixed success and was used initially only away from home before it became a firm part of the Swansea way, a hallmark their still carry today.
Leeds LessonsSwansea's hopes for promotion from the third-tier had been given a reality check when they were out-powered against Leeds at Elland Road in the early part of the season. By the time a huge crowd welcomed the fallen giants to the Liberty in the December, Swansea had complete faith in their new set-up and their belief showed with a real bite to their play too. Bodde's early sending off only galvanised the team and they swept to a 3-2 victory – with Garry Monk one of the scorers – that gave the team the confidence to go on and storm to the title.
Swansea's Garry Monk heads in against Leeds
Kit ConundrumHaving seen the side ditch a yellow change shirt for black in their survival scrap with an emphasis on the psychology, the assumption was there was a significance behind Swansea adopting a green and black striped jersey for away games half-way through the 2007/08 campaign and dropping the navy blue tops they had worn up to then. Martinez kept silent on the reasons giving an air of mystique to the reasons, yet whatever they were appeared to be justified as the first celebrated promotion at Gillingham in the kit and then lifted the title in in at Brighton. Research into the Spaniard's former clubs or any historical background discovered nothing. Martinez eventually came clean and said it was the only shirt available in the manufacturers' catalogue. The bluff worked.
Alan Tate celebrates with Marcos Painter, Jason Scotland and Guillem Bauza
Chopping Down ForestPromoted but warned they would not be able to play their same brand of football in the second-tier, it took just a few fixtures for Swansea to show themselves they could carry on regardless. A 3-1 over a Forest side who had invested heavily was a key moment in maintaining belief their way forward was the right one.
Valentines Day MassacreSwansea had caught the eye of those who had happened to watch them and deservedly dumped holders Portsmouth out of the FA Cup in the previous round. It saw Roy Hodgson's Fulham arrive at the Liberty on Valentine's Day in front of a live terrestrial audience. Although the Cottagers managed a draw – and went on to edge a replay in extra time – they had been outplayed by Martinez's side with Wales international the first to make comparisons with Barcelona.
Jason Scotland scores the equaliser against Fulham on Valentine's Day 2009
Ninian Park PenaltyIn the final South Wales derby at Ninian Park, Joe Allen had looked to have given Swansea a win that would keep hopes of a second successive promotion. Yet, in the dying stages, referee Mike Dean awarded a controversial penalty that gave the Bluebirds a 2-2 draw. It was a blow Swansea couldn't overcome as they lost out on a top-six finish, opening the door for Wigan's eventual approach.
Missing McCarthy & McArthurMartinez had wanted to build on the first season in the Championship and had eyed two midfielders at Hamilton as potential signings. James McCarthy was available for £2m and James McArthur for slightly less but it appeared Swansea couldn't quite stretch themselves to a deal, also unable to turn the loan deal for Jordi Gomez into a permanent one. It planted seeds of doubt in Martinez, something that helped himself justify his walk out for Wigan, later maintaining the compensation paid for his services gave the club the financial shot it needed.
Walking Away for WiganThe exit – made controversial by his now oft-repeated phrase that he would have to be kicked out of the Liberty – prompted real anger from Swansea fans. Yet, at the same time, it allowed others to come in and tweak what had gone before with Rodgers' eventual arrival going down in history. Had Martinez not, no-one can be certain how it all would have played out.
Martinez left for Wigan in 2009
Source: Walesonline
