The Spaniard arrived in the Premier League with very little experience of management, but his affable personality won him many admirers.

Beginning his playing career at lower league Spanish side CF Balaguer, Martinez was a midfielder with ambitions to play around Europe. He stayed in Spain for two years, but really made his name when he transferred to Wigan in 1995.

Becoming part of a small Spanish contingent at the club, he was one of Wigan's famous 'three amigos' alongside Jesus Seba and Isidro Diaz and made over 200 appearances for the Latics in his six year association with them.

In 2001, he moved to Scottish side Motherwell on a free transfer but he failed to break into the first team and he switched clubs the following year, this time to Walsall, but again he played infrequently.

Moving to Swansea City, Martinez was given the captain's armband and helped the Welsh side avoid relegation from the Football League in 2003. In three years he had turned the side into promotion contenders and he duly achieved the feat in 2005. He moved to Chester City, again playing as captain, but in 2007, former club Swansea approached Martinez, offering him the position of manager.

Starting his managerial career well, he took Swansea to the League One title in his first season, taking them back to England's second tier after a 24-year absence, and rightly won many fans' approval for his style of management.

He picked up the League Managers Association's manager of the year award and continued to impress in the following season - leading the promoted side to a respectable 8th place in the Championship (only six points off a play-off place) and knocking FA Cup holders Portsmouth out of the competition.

With a growing reputation, Martinez began to attract attention and, in June 2009, both Celtic and Wigan Athletic asked Swansea for permission to speak with the Spaniard. Agreeing terms, he returned to the JJB Stadium - where he had affectionately been known as 'Bobby' during his playing days - and kept the side in the top flight for three more seasons, rejecting a move to Aston Villa as well.

At the end of 2011-12, having kept Wigan up again, Liverpool came calling but Martinez opted to stay and continue his project at the DW stadium. Surely though, a big move is not far away.

Strengths: Charming and intelligent, he knows the game and knows that to build success you have to begin at grassroots level.

Weaknesses: A bit naive tactically as he always looks to attack, he lacks the experience needed at the top level.

Career high: Sealing Swansea's promotion to the Championship in his first season as a manager in 2007-08.

Career low: Was on the wrong end of a 9-1 drubbing at the hands of Tottenham in November 2009.

Tactics: He has a commitment to attacking football which can sometimes leave his sides caught out at the back, but he operates a 4-2-3-1 shape that relies on strong tacklers in the middle and skilful passers in the attacking third.

Quotes: "We've introduced a completely different style of play to the team. We're allowing the players to think more about their own decisions during the game." Roberto Martinez, August 2009.

Trivia: Martinez is married to a Scot, Beth, whom he met while playing for Motherwell in 2001.