Martinez: Next England national coach to be an Englishman

Premier League side Wigan Athletic’s Spanish manager Roberto Martinez believes England boss Fabio Capello’s successor could well be an Englishman.

Martinez, who is in his maiden Premier League season, having previously guided Swansea to the League One title in 2007/08 and consolidated their position in the Championship.

He is one of only five non-British or Irish managers plying their trade in the top-flight, although foreigners dominate the ‘big four’ clubs with Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal being led by a Spaniard, an Italian and a Frenchman.

Capello is the second foreigner to manage England after the decision to promote Englishman Steve McClaren following the departure of Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson resulted in the national team failing to qualify for Euro 2008.

Capello’s impact has been remarkable, with World Cup qualification assured with two matches still to play, but Martinez stressed people should not read too much into the Italian’s success and McClaren’s failure.

“I wouldn’t just generalise, I think every manager is completely different with his own methods, his own background to develop,” said the Wigan boss.

“But if you look at what Capello has done with England it is quite impressive the results he has had. There are different things you can see with what Capello is trying to do with the players he has for England.

“They are playing as a team, they are more patient in their build-up, they control the ball a lot better and the tempo of the game and they are big things.

“There is huge quality in that squad and to be able to get the best out of it shows the experience Capello has.

“There are many things that are different. I would not say it is better or worse.

“When you generalise in football or in life you are just going to make a mistake because it comes down to individuals.”

McClaren has since moved on to club success with Dutch side Twente, securing qualification for the Champions League last season.

Martinez said that proved English managers could be successful and there should be no reflex action to immediately appoint a foreign coach on the presumption they are better than their domestic equivalents.

“It is the fashion a little bit. However, Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in the world and he is a British manager,” added the Spaniard.

“There are very good British managers; they are very capable and probably after Capello it will be time to have an Englishman [in charge of England].

“Look at British managers who have gone abroad, changed their methods and been open-minded, that does not mean your nationality will dictate your methods or the way you work.

“What Steve McClaren has done at Twente is very impressive, probably we forget about that.

“He had to go through the experience of being England manager to do that abroad.

“Every time we generalise and say ‘He is a foreigner, he has to be good’ or an Englishman is not going to be good is a mistake.

“It is important that every individual develops their own method. What Capello has done is set very high standards and it will be normal for an Englishman to follow him.”