Search for “Martinez manager” and you’ll get three very different people. There’s the Spanish football coach who’s guided Portugal to a Nations League title, a California city official running a Contra Costa County municipality, and a Wimbledon champion turned tennis coach. The name overlap is pure coincidence — the careers barely touch.
Full name: Roberto Martínez Montoliu · Current role: Head coach of Portugal national team · Appointed: January 2023 · Contract until: 2026 FIFA World Cup
Quick snapshot
- Roberto Martínez is Portugal’s head coach since January 2023 (BBC Sport)
- He led Belgium to third place at the 2018 World Cup (ESPN Press Room)
- Conchita Martínez won Wimbledon in 1994 and was WTA Coach of the Year 2021 (International Tennis Hall of Fame)
- Michael Chandler serves as City Manager of Martinez, California (City of Martinez)
- Exact calendar day Roberto Martínez signed his Portugal contract in January 2023
- Detailed financial terms and performance clauses of his Portugal deal
- Whether Conchita Martínez will continue coaching top WTA players long-term
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Roberto Martínez Montoliu |
| Date of birth | 12 July 1973 (age 52) |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Current team | Portugal national team (head coach) |
| Appointed | January 2023 |
| Contract until | 2026 FIFA World Cup |
| Playing career | Midfielder for Wigan Athletic, Walsall, Swansea City |
| Notable achievement | Third place at 2018 World Cup with Belgium |
Who is Martinez manager of?
The term “Martinez manager” most often points to Roberto Martínez, the Spanish football coach currently leading the Portugal national team. BBC Sport refers to him simply as “Portugal coach” in international coverage — a naming convention that helps distinguish him from other football managers sharing the Martínez surname.
Roberto Martínez: Portugal national team head coach
Roberto Martínez became Portugal’s head coach in January 2023, replacing Fernando Santos after six years under the previous regime. His appointment came shortly after he resigned from Belgium, where he’d been since 2016. The Portuguese Football Federation announced his contract would run until the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As of mid-2025, he guided Portugal to a UEFA Nations League title in the 2024–2025 edition — a result that strengthened his standing heading into the 2026 cycle.
Michael Chandler: City manager of Martinez, California
The city of Martinez, California — located in Contra Costa County — operates under a council-manager government. Michael Chandler serves as City Manager, overseeing administrative operations and implementing city council policy. The city’s official website lists his contact as mchandler@cityofmartinez.org and identifies him as the head of municipal administration. This is a separate Michael Chandler from the UFC mixed martial artist — a naming coincidence that occasionally causes confusion.
Conchita Martínez: tennis coach
Conchita Martínez is a retired Spanish tennis player best known for winning Wimbledon in 1994 — the first Spanish woman to claim the singles title in the Open Era. She transitioned into coaching and was named WTA Coach of the Year in 2021 after guiding Garbiñe Muguruza to top results. She has also coached Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva. The International Tennis Hall of Fame recognizes her career, and she has served as Spanish Fed Cup and Davis Cup captain.
If you searched “Martinez manager” expecting football news, you’re looking for Roberto Martínez. Municipal searches will point to Michael Chandler. Tennis coaching questions lead to Conchita Martínez. Three careers, one surname, zero connection.
Is Roberto Martinez a good manager?
Roberto Martínez built his managerial reputation in English football before moving into national team roles. His early career saw him appointed manager of Swansea City at age 33 — an unusually young start for a top-level coach. The Coaches’ Voice describes his philosophy as possession-based and attacking, distinguishing his approach from more defensive Iberian counterparts.
Roberto Martínez’s managerial record with Belgium and Portugal
With Belgium, Martínez led the team to a historic third-place finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup — the nation’s best-ever tournament result. He managed Wigan Athletic to an FA Cup triumph in 2013, the club’s first major trophy, and previously took charge of Everton after that Wigan success. With Portugal, his Nations League victory in 2024–2025 added a trophy to his record, though Portugal’s 2026 World Cup campaign remains ahead of him.
Criticism of his tactical approach
Critics point to Belgium’s group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup — his final tournament with the Red Devils — as evidence that his man-management style hasn’t consistently translated into tournament success. Some reports suggest exit signals from Martínez after the 2026 World Cup, according to media coverage. The debate centers on whether his possession-first philosophy fits all squad compositions equally well.
Comparison with his predecessors
Fernando Santos, who preceded Martínez at Portugal, led the nation to a first European Championship title in 2016 and reached the World Cup semifinals in 2006. Santos favored a more conservative setup; Martínez brought a visibly different tactical identity. The comparison remains active in Portuguese football discourse — some fans value the attacking style, others miss the defensive solidity of the Santos era.
Roberto Martínez’s Portugal tenure will be evaluated on what happens at the 2026 World Cup. His Nations League win buys goodwill, but tournament football in the knockout rounds is where national team coaches ultimately stand or fall.
Roberto Martínez has delivered tangible results with Portugal so far, but the 2026 World Cup will determine whether his attacking philosophy translates to knockout-stage success — the metric that defines national team coaching legacies.
When did Martinez become Portugal’s manager?
Roberto Martínez officially became Portugal’s head coach in January 2023, following the end of his Belgium contract in January 2023. The Portuguese Football Federation announced the appointment, with media outlets like BBC Sport reporting the move as a notable international appointment. His contract runs until the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a deal structured around the quadrennial tournament cycle rather than a fixed year.
Appointment date: January 2023
Sources consistently identify the appointment month as January 2023, though the exact calendar day varies across publications. The IMDB news aggregation of the Portuguese Football Federation announcement frames the contract as running through to the 2026 World Cup. This timeline gives Martínez roughly a three-and-a-half-year preparation window for the global tournament.
Contract duration until July 2026
The contract’s endpoint aligns with the 2026 World Cup final date, a standard structure for national team coaching deals. Specific financial terms — salary, bonuses, performance clauses — remain undisclosed in publicly available sources. What is confirmed is that Martínez replaced Fernando Santos, whose six-year Portugal reign ended after the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Career timeline
The milestones below trace Roberto Martínez’s journey from player to international coach, with key dates anchored to verifiable sources.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 12 July 1973 | Roberto Martínez born in Balaguer, Spain |
| 1995–2007 | Playing career in England: Wigan Athletic, Walsall, Swansea City |
| 2007 | Appointed manager of Swansea City at age 33 |
| 2013 | Led Wigan Athletic to FA Cup triumph over Manchester City |
| 2013–2016 | Manager of Everton; sacked in May 2016 |
| 2016–2022 | Head coach of Belgium; third place at 2018 World Cup |
| December 2022 | Resigned after Belgium’s group-stage exit at 2022 World Cup |
| January 2023 | Appointed Portugal national team head coach |
| 2024–2025 | Guided Portugal to UEFA Nations League title |
What we know and what we don’t
Roberto Martínez is confirmed as Portugal’s head coach under contract through the 2026 World Cup. His coaching record — FA Cup win, Belgium third place, Nations League trophy — is documented across multiple Tier 2 sources including ESPN and The Coaches’ Voice. His January 2023 appointment replacing Fernando Santos is established fact.
What remains unclear includes the exact day in January 2023 when he signed, the financial specifics of his Portugal contract, and whether any post-2026 World Cup decision has been confirmed or remains speculative.
Confirmed
- Roberto Martínez is Portugal’s head coach since January 2023
- He was sacked by Everton in May 2016 after finishing 11th in the Premier League
- Michael Chandler is City Manager of Martinez, California (per the city’s official website)
- Conchita Martínez won Wimbledon in 1994 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
Unconfirmed or still developing
- Precise timing of any post-2026 World Cup decision by Roberto Martínez
- Detailed performance metrics comparing his Portugal tenure to Belgium
- Michael Chandler’s full career history before Martinez city appointment
What people say
“Roberto Martínez is commonly referred to as ‘Portugal coach’ in international media to distinguish him from other individuals with the Martínez surname in football and other sports.”
“By winning Wimbledon in 1994, Conchita Martínez became the first Spanish woman to win the Wimbledon singles title in the Open Era.”
“The city manager form of government, such as that used in Martinez, California, typically gives the manager responsibility for implementing city council policy, overseeing departments, and preparing the budget.”
Roberto Martínez brought attacking football to Portugal, and the Nations League trophy validates that direction. But Portugal’s global standing means fans expect deep runs at the 2026 World Cup — a tournament where tactical rigidity often beats stylistic flair. His legacy depends on what happens in North America in mid-2026.
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Frequently asked questions
How many years did Roberto Martínez manage Belgium?
Roberto Martínez managed Belgium from 2016 until January 2023, when he resigned after the team’s group-stage exit at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. That spans just over six years.
What is Roberto Martínez’s playing position?
Roberto Martínez was a midfielder during his playing career. He represented clubs including Wigan Athletic, Walsall, and Swansea City in English football.
Did Roberto Martínez win the Premier League with Everton?
No. Roberto Martínez managed Everton from 2013 to 2016 and guided them to an 11th-place Premier League finish in his final season. He did not win the league with any club.
Who is the current coach of Portugal national team?
Roberto Martínez became the Portugal national team head coach in January 2023, replacing Fernando Santos. He remains under contract through the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Is Conchita Martínez a Wimbledon champion?
Yes. Conchita Martínez won the Wimbledon women’s singles title in 1994, defeating Martina Navratilova in the final. She was the first Spanish woman to win Wimbledon singles in the Open Era.
How many trophies has Roberto Martínez won as a manager?
Roberto Martínez’s managerial trophies include the FA Cup with Wigan Athletic (2013) and the UEFA Nations League with Portugal (2024–2025). He also led Belgium to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, which is a tournament result rather than a trophy.
Does Roberto Martínez have a wife?
Roberto Martínez is married to Ruth María, though detailed personal information about his family life is limited in publicly available sources.
What is the population of Martinez, California?
Martinez, California has a population of approximately 38,000 people, according to U.S. Census data. The city is located in Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Ingrid Malmstrom
Senior Football Editor — Ingrid Malmstrom oversees club, league, and player profile coverage. Her editorial focus is European football, historical records, and ensuring that profiles are clearly sourced, consistently structured, and regularly updated.