ROBERTO MARTINEZ, in Glasgow for tonight’s friendly against Scotland, looked back on the time he came close to becoming the Celtic manager.
The Belgium boss disclosed that he was interviewed for the manager’s job at Parkhead in 2009 when Celtic were looking for a replacement for Gordon Strachan, who had decided that enough was enough.
Martinez, who had played for Motherwell, was then the boss at Swansea City, and had other options alongside Celtic, one being the chance to manage Wigan – another club that he had played for. He opted for Wigan rather than a move to Glasgow and he was happy to reflect on what might have been at Celtic, yesterday.
“I had conversations and I was always very impressed with the need to bring silverware.
“There was also the prospect of getting to the Champions League through the qualifying rounds and it was always a club that people are attracted to because of the intensity of the fans and what it means.
“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.
“In life, there has to be the right timing for moves and at that particular time I wasn’t prepared to go away from my beginnings in the UK.
“It was a chance to go and work again with Dave Whelan, who was the man who had brought me to Britain. 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.”
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