Roberto Martinez: 'I wish Sam Allardyce good start to his Everton career'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 02 December 2017

Martinez wishes Allardyce well at Everton

Former Everton manager Roberto Martinez, now in charge of Belgium, wishes former England boss Sam Allardyce a "very good start" to his tenure at Goodison Park.

Former Everton manager Roberto Martinez has wished Sam Allardyce a "very good start" to his tenure at Goodison Park.

The Spaniard was in charge of the Toffees between 2013 and 2016 before being replaced by Ronald Koeman in the dugout.

Allardyce, meanwhile, was appointed to the England hotseat at the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign but left following controversial comments made to fictitious businessmen in an undercover newspaper sting.

The Englishman subsequently helped Crystal Palace stay up in the Premier League last season before going on hiatus to spend time with his family, but has now taken on the Everton reins following the dismissal of Koeman.

"Well, I think in football, you cannot write it, you cannot predict it," Martinez, whose Belgium side will take on England in the World Cup, told Sky Sports News. "I think Sam Allardyce brings enormous experience into a club like Everton.

"They started a little bit in the wrong end of the ambition that they had this season. [But] I will always follow Everton and will always wish them the best from a distance, so I wish Sam a very good start to his Everton career."

Allardyce has made a name for himself as a successful relegation fighter, having also helped Sunderland stay up in the 2015-16 season.