Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Spain’s representation in terms of Premier League Managers is set to be a lot less next season after events across the last 48 hours have culminated in two departures and a relegation.
Roberto Martinez was shown the exit door at Goodison Park Yesterday as a consequence of a woeful season at the Goodison Park helm. The pressure has been mounting throughout the campaign but the manner in which they have lost their last 3 games on the road have been well below what is deemed acceptable and the writing was very much on the wall after defeat to Sunderland on Tuesday.
After a bright start in charge it’s fair to say that Martinez has taken the club backwards. He was lucky in a sense that David Moyes left him such a good platform to work with but that has all been eroded with the Martinez style traits of poor defending being all too apparent not just this season but last as well.
Martinez’s stock has certainly been damaged after his stint at Everton, is it fair to say that he has now been found out. He hasn’t learned as a Manager after leaving Wigan and you have to wonder what the future will hold for the man who masterminded a 2013 F.A. Cup Final win over Manchester City.
Another man who will be wondering where his future lies is Quique Sanchez Flores who today announced that he is leaving Watford at the end of the season.
How much of the decision was his or that of the Pozzo Family remains to be seen although I have a feeling it was the latter. Harsh for Quique especially after comfortably keeping the club up and also earning a trip to Wembley this season.
But 2016 has seen a worrying halt in momentum and maybe the Ex Atletico boss has run out of ideas. That coupled with the fact that the Vicarage Road hotseat is an incredibly hot one and although maybe a harsh decision it’s not the greatest surprise either.
One man who certainly won’t be a Premier League boss next season is Rafa Benitez. His Newcastle side were relegated on Tuesday after Sunderland’s win and now the big question will fancy life in The Championship next season.
Imagine that The Bernabeu to Burton Albion in less than 12 months, talk about a fall from grace. I think the smart money will be on Rafa departing Tyneside after Sunday.
Could a return to Valencia be on the cards or could he do the unthinkable and cross the Merseyside divide by heading over Stanley Park to take charge of Everton. Stranger things have certainly happened.
Even with all this upheavel, Spanish Managers aren’t completely out of vogue with Aitor Karanka looking forward to taking charge of Middlesbrough in the top flight and of course we can’t forget about the Pep Guardiola era on the horizon at Manchester City.
It’s not quite Adios Espana yet.
