On This Day: Everton sack Roberto Martinez as head coach

| 12 May 2021

On This Day: Everton sack Roberto Martinez as head coach

Roberto Martinez had guided the Merseysiders to the semi-finals of the both the FA Cup and League Cup that season.

Everton sacked manager Roberto Martinez on this day in 2016, ending his three-year spell in charge of the club.

Martinez, then 42, had guided the Merseysiders to the semi-finals of the both the FA Cup and League Cup that season.

But that was not enough to appease Toffees fans, who had been protesting against the Spaniard in increasing numbers after the club had slipped to 12th in the Premier League.

Everton's best Premier League finish under Martinez was fifth, in his first season in charge (John Walton/PA)

Everton announced his departure with one game of the 2015/16 season remaining after back-to-back 3-1 and 3-0 defeats at Leicester and Sunderland respectively.

The club praised Martinez for his "utmost integrity and dignity" and described him as a "great ambassador".

Everton, who had come under new ownership the previous February when Iranian businessman Farhad Moshiri bought a 49.9 per cent stake, appointed Ronald Koeman as Martinez's permanent successor the following month.

Belgium qualified for Euro 2020 with a 100 per cent record (PA via Belga)

Former Swansea and Wigan boss Martinez promised to deliver Champions League football for Everton when he replaced David Moyes in 2013. They finished fifth in his first season and 11th in his second.

Three months after leaving Goodison Park, Martinez replaced Marc Wilmots as Belgium's new head coach and has kept them top of FIFA's world rankings.

Martinez guided Belgium to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup after a semi-final defeat to eventual winners France and the Red Devils head to next month's Euro 2020 having won all 10 of their qualifying matches.