Roberto Martínez

Roberto Martínez
Martínez as Belgium coach at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Roberto Martínez Montoliu
Date of birth (1973-07-13) 13 July 1973
Place of birth Balaguer, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Portugal (manager)
Youth career
1981–1990 Balaguer
1990–1992 Zaragoza
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1994 Zaragoza B 55 (36)
1993 Zaragoza 1 (0)
1994–1995 Balaguer 32 (18)
1995–2001 Wigan Athletic 187 (17)
2001–2002 Motherwell 16 (0)
2002–2003 Walsall 6 (0)
2003–2006 Swansea City 122 (4)
2006–2007 Chester City 31 (3)
Total 450 (78)
Managerial career
2007–2009 Swansea City
2009–2013 Wigan Athletic
2013–2016 Everton
2016–2022 Belgium
2023– Portugal
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Belgium (as manager)
FIFA World Cup
2018 RussiaTeam
Representing  Portugal (as manager)
UEFA Nations League
Winner2025 Germany
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Roberto Martínez Montoliu (Catalan pronunciation: [roˈβeɾt maɾˈtineθ]; born 13 July 1973) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who is currently the head coach of the Portugal national team.

Martínez played as a defensive midfielder and began his career at Real Zaragoza, with whom he won the Copa del Rey. He spent a year at lower league side Balaguer, before signing for English Third Division side Wigan Athletic. Becoming part of a small Spanish contingent at the club known as "the three amigos", alongside Jesús Seba and Isidro Díaz, he was a regular first team player for six years, the longest period of time he spent at one club. During his time there, he won the Football League Third Division and the Football League Trophy. He moved to Scottish side Motherwell, then to Walsall, before joining Swansea City in 2003. He became club captain and helped the team to win promotion to League One in 2005. He moved to Chester City in 2006, and was again chosen to be captain.

In 2007, Martínez began his managerial career at Swansea City and led the club to Championship promotion as League One champions. He then joined Wigan Athletic as manager in 2009, helping the club avoid relegation for three consecutive seasons. In his fourth season Wigan were relegated, but won the FA Cup in 2013 for the first time in the club's history. At the end of that season, he became manager of Everton, finishing in fifth place in his first season at the club. In May 2016, he was dismissed as their manager with the club in 12th position, and became Belgium's head coach in August 2016. Martinez guided them to third place in 2018 FIFA World Cup, their best-ever position in the competition, as well as holding first place for Belgium in the FIFA World Rankings from 2018 to 2022. He resigned from Belgium after the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In January 2023, he was appointed as the head coach of Portugal and won the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League in June 2025.