Everton FC look towards Spain as they seek to gain – Liverpool Echo

24 Aug 2013 08:52

Roberto Martinez salutes the Everton fans at Norwich

Mikel Arteta used to be cherished as the ‘Best Little Spaniard’ Evertonians knew.

 In the Goodison dug-out today a new manager will perhaps be hoping to take over the title.

 Roberto Martinez is no stranger to the Premier League of course, and he wasted little time in adding one of his compatriots to the Blues squad, sealing the loan of exciting Barcelona starlet Gerard Deulofeu shortly after his appointment.

 Previously it was Everton’s neighbours across the park with the richer Latin flavour after Rafa Benitez’s reign heralded an ongoing influx of Spanish players to Anfield.

 That trend has been replicated across the Premier League, with La Liga stars  arriving in droves. This summer Roberto Soldado, Iago Aspas, and Alvaro Negredo to name but a few have arrived.

 But Martinez was the original Conquistador.

 In an era when Premier League footballers are as likely to greet their colleagues with a ‘hola’ as ‘hello’, it might be difficult to appreciate why Martinez was such a pioneer – and the man himself admits he could never have predicted the present influx of his countrymen.

 “I never imagined there would be so many Spanish players here. Never,” he says.

 “At that time the  perception here was that Spanish players were great in the summer but could never adapt in the  winter… 

 “They’d never do it on a freezing Tuesday night in January.

 “I think I never thought that  could be changed, but when the Spanish team won three major  tournaments that began to change views.”

 Martinez joined the then Third Division Wigan in 1995 along with team-mates Jesus Seba and Isidro Diaz in a trio soon dubbed The Three Amigos after the popular 1986 Steve Martin bandit comedy.

 Only Nayim had made the journey before them, leaving Spain to play for Spurs in 1988.

 It was a trail-blazing move, and Martinez reckons economic conditions in La Liga have made the path ever more popular.

 “The financial difficulties in the  Spanish league encouraged players to be a bit more brave and try things abroad,” he says. “Years ago  I think the typical Spanish player was happy to stay in their comfortable environment and there  was no desire to go abroad.

 “That’s changed now because it’s a better opportunity.

“I could never  have imagined that would happen 18 years ago.”

 The Blues boss believes perception about Spanish players in the UK have also altered in recent times.

 “I think it’s a combination,” he says.

 “Part of it is the perception of the Spanish game by English people  these days.

“Spain as the national team and Barcelona the way they’ve played the last six years  have changed the perception of a Spanish player.

 “They bring real ability to play between the lines  and a real technical flair which allows teams to use that as an option.

 “They bring a unique way of  playing the game which has been the most successful ever at international level, so you can  understand that respect towards it.

 “The mentality of the Spanish player over the last decade has  changed massively too. 

 “Sometimes you need one or two to break the ice and that develops  curiosity from the rest.  “Now Spanish players look at the Premier League as a league they want  to test themselves in and at the moment it’s a perfect marriage from what a Spanish player brings  and his desire to better himself.”

 Evertonians will be hoping their own union with one of the original Spanish stylists proves an enduring one.