Roberto Martinez’s best games

Swansea 4 Hull 2 May 3, 2003 Division Three

“We went into the game knowing we had to beat Hull to stay in the Football League. As players, we were so conscious that people’s jobs were on the line if we got relegated, not to mention how hard it would be for the fans. That match had everything in terms of emotions. We went 2-1 down – I still remember Michael Howard taking a throw-in soon after making a mistake for one of their goals and being almost in tears – but we bounced back, and James Thomas hit a hat-trick to seal our survival. It was the starting point for the club to experience promotions, Premier League football and a League Cup victory in the decade that followed.”

Manchester City 0 Wigan 1

May 11, 2013 FA Cup Final

“Reaching a major cup final at Wembley Stadium was incredible, up against the team who had won the Premier League the previous year. Manchester City were the overwhelming favourites to win, and when you upset the odds the result is all the more pleasing. We won the cup with an injury-time goal from Ben Watson and it was such a magical day. The FA Cup final is a completely unique occasion – when I was growing up in Spain we used to watch the FA Cup final on television. To be a part of it and win it was a moment I’ll treasure forever.”

Manchester United 0 Everton 1

December 4, 2013 Premier League

“I’m a football manager who gains a huge amount of satisfaction from winning matches people don’t expect. When I was Swansea’s manager in 2009, we won 2-0 away at Portsmouth in the FA Cup and outplayed them. They were a Premier League club and the FA Cup holders, and Swansea were in the Championship. I was in charge of Wigan when we finally beat a top four club – we beat Chelsea, then won against Liverpool and Arsenal, too. Then there was the fantastic occasion at Manchester United, with Bryan Oviedo scoring late on. It was Everton’s first victory at Old Trafford in 21 years.”

Belgium 2 England 0

July 14, 2018 World Cup

“Our 2-1 victory over Brazil in the quarter-finals of the World Cup was up there in terms of the best games I’ve experienced in my career. What made our win over England in the third-place play-off just as special, if not more so, was the fact that we became the most successful Belgian side in history with the result. The great 1986 team, with the likes of Jan Ceulemans and Enzo Scifo, is referenced so often in Belgium and they came fourth in Mexico. Beating England meant this talented generation of players went one step further.”