Martinez: Everton can make step up

Roberto Martinez, right, won the FA Cup with Wigan last month
6 June 2013

New Everton manager Roberto Martinez is ready to embrace the challenge of taking the club to the next level.

The Spaniard has signed a four-year contract to become Manchester United-bound David Moyes' successor at Goodison Park and the Toffees' 14th permanent manager in 135 years.

Martinez, 39, leaves Wigan after four years which ended with him winning the FA Cup but also getting relegated. "It is a real special day to come to Everton and have this feeling already of excitement and honour and I'd like to thank the chairman (Bill Kenwright) for this opportunity," he said at his unveiling press conference.

"There is huge pressure but I am extremely proud of that pressure because it means what David Moyes did in 11 years is set high standards and lay an incredible platform. I feel lucky to be able to carry on that work."

Asked why he had chosen now to leave Wigan, having turned down Aston Villa and Liverpool previously, he added: "It is simple: it came in a natural way. It has been a phenomenal time at Wigan but after four seasons this was the right time and I knew Everton was the right club. It has been a natural transition to be involved in such an exciting club."

Martinez said his aim was to get Everton into the Champions League - which Moyes managed just once during his reign - but that it would not be immediate. He said: "The aim for Everton should be to get into the Champions League. That doesn't mean next season but that has to be the aim for the future."

One of Martinez's first jobs will be to persuade the likes of Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini, both linked with summer moves away, to stay at the club. Kenwright insists no players have asked to leave and he is confident that will remain so. He also pledged to back his new manager financially.

"I'll give him a few quid to spend. The others are not for sale. We don't want them to go, they have worked massively hard for this club," Kenwright said. "Roberto doesn't want them to go, he has all their numbers and he will be on the phone asking them not to go. Not one person has even half-indicated they want to go."

Martinez has been linked with moves for some of his former players like midfielder James McCarthy and forwards Arouna Kone and ex-Toffees youth team prospect Callum McManaman.

"There is always a normal assumption that when a manager moves on he will bring those players along," said the new Toffees boss. "It would be a big mistake to look at the manager's previous team. We have to look at the whole range, world football is a big market."

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