Everton boss Roberto Martinez has revealed that he turned down the chance to manage Liverpool because he didn't feel the move was "right" for him.
The Reds approached Martinez before appointing Brendan Rodgers last year as the Spaniard chose to remain at Wigan Athletic, whom he guided to success in the FA Cup later in the season before joining the Toffees this summer.
Martinez told reporters: "The feel we have at the football club, and the way I am allowed to work here, feels right to me. It allows you to work. I understand we are talking about Liverpool because it's a derby but there were three or four other clubs interested that summer along with them.
"So the decision I had to take was about staying or moving at that time - for me it wasn't right, it didn't feel that way from my side. It was many things at the time. I always value human relationships and I had one with the chairman at Wigan.
"We had the commitment to carry on for another season which ended up with Wigan winning a major trophy. You make decisions based on feelings and that was the right thing to do."
Everton and Liverpool face off in the Merseyside derby later today.
Simon Sinclair
