Football Daily Roberto Martinez - The Football Interview
Feb 14, 2026
Roberto Martinez, former player turned Portugal manager who led Wigan to the 2013 FA Cup and steered Belgium’s golden generation, shares his football journey. He talks about adapting to life in the UK, the magic of underdog wins, differences between club and international management, uniting star-packed squads, and managing Cristiano Ronaldo today.
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Address The Individual Before The Team
- Martinez learned from being isolated as a young player how important individual support is to build a cohesive team.
- He argues you must address the 'I' before creating an effective team dynamic.
Influence Of Cruyff And Diverse Managers
- Martinez credits Johan Cruyff with transforming football into a technical, possession-based game focused on numerical advantage.
- He names other managers he studied for different tactical and communication strengths.
Learn By Watching And Reverse-Engineering
- Martinez recommends watching games closely and reverse-engineering key moments to learn coaching methods.
- He used World Cups and summer tournaments as practical study trips with his wife to observe elite coaching.