Stoke City: Vodka Martinez, Shaken, Not Stirred.

2013-14: Everton

2014-15: Coma/Unemployed

2015: Stoke City (Technical Director)

2015-present: Stoke City

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Hello and welcome to the story I actually stick with, yes, it finally happens. I shall be managing Everton Football Club, aiming to take the club eventually to a Premier League title, but imminently a place in the top four.

Here is a little low-down on what Everton have done so far in their history.

Club Honours:

First Division (9)
1890–91, 1914–15, 1927–28, 1931–32, 1938–39, 1962–63, 1969–70, 1984–85, 1986–87

Second Division (1)
1930-31

FA Cup (5)
1906, 1933, 1966, 1984, 1995

FA Charity Shield (9)
1928, 1932, 1963, 1970, 1984, 1985, 1986 (shared), 1987, 1995

European Cup Winners' Cup (1)
1985

Club Records:

Most appearances: Neville Southall (750)
Most goals: Dixie Dean (383)
Most goals in a season: Dixie Dean (60)
Youngest ever goalscorer: James Vaughan (16yrs 271 days)
Youngest ever player: Jose Baxter (16yrs 191 days)
Oldest ever player: Ted Sagar (42yrs 281 days)
Highest transfer fee paid: Marouane Fellaini (£15M)
Highest transfer fee received: Wayne Rooney (£30M)

Stay tuned for updates on new signings, club news and the start of the 2013/14 Premier League season.

Everton have appointed Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez as their new manager on a one-year contract.

The 39-year-old Spaniard won the FA Cup at Wigan this season, but asked to leave the DW Stadium after failing to keep them in the Premier League.

He succeeds David Moyes, who takes over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United after 11 years at Goodison Park.

Martinez will be officially presented as Everton manager at a news conference at 16:00 BST.

Wigan said in a statement: "Roberto's influence at the club, both as a player and manager, an association that spanned over a decade, will remain unforgettable to all Latics' fans.

"The club would like to place on record its appreciation for his tireless work during that time, culminating in FA Cup glory last month at Wembley Stadium."

Martinez made 180 appearances as a player for Wigan between 1995 and 2001 before returning as manager eight years later.

Under him, Wigan finished 16th twice and in 15th place before slipping to relegation this season.

In June 2011, he was a target for Aston Villa but opted to stay at the DW Stadium. He was also strongly linked with the Liverpool job last summer.

Martinez, who was hired by Wigan after taking Swansea City from League One to the Championship, announced last month that he would leave the Latics after four years at the helm.

Whelan said on Monday that he had agreed a deal with his Everton counterpart Bill Kenwright to allow the under-contract Martinez to leave.

The Spaniard takes charge of an Everton team which recently finished sixth in the Premier League.

The Toffees have secured a top-eight finish in each of their last seven campaigns.

Former Everton winger Pat Nevin told BBC Radio 5 live that Martinez will be judged a success at Goodison Park if he can maintain the club's current position.

He said: "The realism is, if he does as well as Moyes, he would have done a brilliant job. Moyes has maximised the potential of that club.

"Can he do better than that with their finances? He must roughly finish fifth or sixth, which isn't easy, and he will want to do it in a special way.

"Everton like a cultured game of football, so he will be welcomed. He does have one thing on his CV which Moyes hasn't got though, and [that] is a trophy."

With Martinez's exit from Wigan confirmed, Whelan told BBC Radio Jersey that he will begin speaking to candidates to succeed the Spaniard shortly.

"Obviously, I am now free to look and interview managers because I have to fill the vacancy," he said. "I am in Jersey now for four days, and when I get back, I have to get that vacancy filled within one week.

"I have had over 30 applications from some great men. I am excited about interviewing them.

"It is not an easy job to appoint a manager. Hopefully, I will get the right man, and Wigan will get the right result, and we will fight our way back to the Premier League."

Great first update, really looking forward to this! Good luck

Former Manchester United assistant and Anzhi Makhachkala head coach Rene Meulensteen has joined Roberto Martinez's backroom staff at Everton on a two-year contract.

The world renowned Dutch coach worked alongside Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United for many years, before venturing into sole management, initially with Anzhi in Russia.

He was sacked after a brief, mediocre spell in charge, but has now agreed to assist Roberto Martinez at Goodison Park in a coaching capacity.

Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper coach Kevin Hitchcock has also joined the Everton backroom team, along with former Spurs coach Clive Allen.

Former Newcastle United fitness coach Paul Winsper has also been added to the Toffees backroom set-up.

Corinthians forward Jose Paolo Guerrero, 29, has agreed personal terms with Everton Football Club, putting pen to paper on a four-year-contract.

Guerrero becomes Roberto Martinez's first signing as Everton manager, and he has a fine reputation across the world of football.

The Peruvian forward score 10 goals in 27 appearances for Bayern Munich in 2004-05, and last season managed 12 in 35 appearances for Corinthians.

The deal is worth £6M in total.

A nice start so far, and a shrewd signing you have there, best of luck with the story!

I'm interested to see what you have planned for your strikers, will you start with Lukaku? How will Kone or Traore get a sniff with the new man coming in?

Pre-season is always vastly important at any club. Getting your tactics integrated onto the side, selecting your best eleven for the first day of the season and getting players up to full fitness before the season starts - these are all key to starting well. Hopefully we can do so.

Match Results

Two Dnipro goals from Roman Zozulya were too much for a weakened and experimental Everton side, led by Roberto Martinez for the very first time.

Everton equalised at 1-1 through youngster Apostolos Vellios, but minutes later Dnipro were ahead in this pre-season run out.

Everton Goals: Apostolos Vellios (53)
Dnipro Goals: Roman Zozulya (1, 67)
Man of the Match: Apostolos Vellios (7.1)



A Lukaku brace and a solo effort from Kevin Mirallas secured pre-season victory for Everton, as they beat Mexican side Pachuca 3-2 in an entertaining game at Goodison Park.

Juan Carranza struck twice for Pachuca but it wasn't enough, and Martinez had his first win in charge of his new team.

Everton Goals: Romelu Lukaku (47,52), Kevin Mirallas (71)
Dnipro Goals: Juan Carranza (24,55)
Man of the Match: Romelu Lukaku (8.8)



An early own goal from Lille defender Pape Souare gifted us an early lead, but our experimental side conceded late on and could only muster a draw.

Everton Goals: Pape Souare (OG 3)
Lille Goals: Divock Origi (70)
Man of the Match: Gareth Barry (7.9)



Ricardo Kishna struck late for Ajax to hand them a 1-0 friendly win at Goodison.

Everton Goals:
Lille Goals: Ricardo Kishna (88)
Man of the Match: Tony Hibbert (7.0)



Goals from Darron Gibson, Kevin Mirallas and new striker Jose Paolo Guerrero sealed a solid 3-0 win for Everton, in their final pre-season friendly with Southport.

Southport Goals:
Everton Goals: Darron Gibson (11), Kevin Mirallas (14), Paolo Guerrero (29)
Man of the Match: Paolo Guerrero (8.4)

Good to see you blow those lot from Southport out of the water.

Former Liverpool, Olympiacos, Galatasaray and Watford left-sider Albert Riera has controversially completed a free of charge move across Merseyside to play in the blue of Everton.

Riera has signed a two-year-contract at Goodison Park.

Signing for a club having already played for their rivals can often be daunting - as when Liverpool face Everton in the league this year, Riera will likely endure a long afternoon.

Though new Everton boss Martinez doesn't think the derby link should affect the way either sets of supporters treat him.

"Of course, it will not be easy for Albert at first but he is aware of how things like this go.

"He is no fool, and he knows that we brought him here as a first team player, not an ex-Liverpool player.

"I ask that the Evertonian fans can accept Albert Riera just as they did players like Peter Beardsley, and our current youth team coach Kevin Sheedy."

I am loving this story, good signing in Riera and I hope he shows the red side how good he is

2014-05-09 18:20#174066 jasonvilla4ever : I am loving this story, good signing in Riera and I hope he shows the red side how good he is

Thanks mate, I hope he does too!

It's always important to get your season off to a quick start, so August in many respects is one of the most important months.

Match Results

My old club Swansea was first up, and this may end up being an absolutely vital three points come the end of the season, and we really rode our luck at times throughout the game. Being 1-0 down at half-time was not acceptable, so I told the players straight and they came out and immediately responded. Leighton scored a perhaps 'fortunate' penalty a minute after the restart, but four minutes later Swansea were back ahead. Six minutes after that Ross Barkley connected with a Baines cross and scored to level things up. We were hit hard on the hour mark though when Seamus Coleman picked up his second yellow and went for an early bath. I decided 3-4-2 was the best option to stay in the game at this point, and it paid off on 89 minutes, when on-loan Chelsea powerhouse volleyed in. We held on and collected all three points.

Everton Goals: Leighton Baines (46 pen), Ross Barkley (56), Romelu Lukaku (89)
Swansea Goals: Ashley Williams (17), Roland Lamah (50)
Everton OFF: Seamus Coleman (60)
Man of the Match: Leighton Baines (7.5)



To be 3-0 down was really disappointing, but in all honesty Olivier Giroud looked absolutely unplayable in this one - however our defenders approached playing him. When we got it back to 3-2 I thought we might be in with a sniff and we always looked like scoring a third, but unfortunately it just didn't come. I couldn't really have asked for much more, we'll work on our defensive capabilities in training.

Arsenal Goals: Mikel Arteta (12 pen), Olivier Giroud (53, 66)
Everton Goals: Sylvain Distin (74), Ross Barkley (79)
Man of the Match: Sylvain Distin (7.6)



This was a fantastic result for us against perhaps the strongest side in the division. We reacted well to going 1-0 down and turned it round in two minutes going 2-1 up, but class did hit us when Sergio Aguero scored 10 minutes later to level things up. It was a great football match and both sides will have come off the field kicking themselves that they didn't snatch a win.

Everton Goals: Leighton Baines (18), Ross Barkley (19)
Man City Goals: Sergio Aguero (8,28)
Man of the Match: Leighton Baines (8.3)




We progressed through to the third round of the Capital One Cup, where we will face a home tie with Newcastle United after beating Exeter comprehensively.

Everton Goals: John Stones (17), Albert Riera (55), Antolin Alcaraz (80)
Exeter Goals:
Man of the Match: John Stones (8.3)

On The Whole

Not a bad month considering the strength of opposition faced. To play Arsenal and Manchester City in your first three games of the Premier League season and pick up a point against City and narrowly miss out against Arsenal is fantastic, and the late win against Swansea is a huge result. To progress in the Capital One Cup is also pleasing - a trip to Wembley would be a delightful achievement, not just for me but the club and its fans.

Premier League Table

A steady start and possibilities still endless as always after the first month. Hopefully we can break into the top four next month and really make a push to break away from the middle ground teams.

Player of The Month

England left-back Leighton Baines has had a sterling month for Everton. Two man of the match awards, scoring two goals and assisting four - nobody came close to matching his standard of performance this month.

Baines' August Highlight: A 30 yard free-kick flew past Joe Hart in the Manchester City goal to level things up in a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

Transfer News

• Bryan Oviedo signs 3 year contract extension, warning off PSG's interest.
  
• Albert Riera completes a free transfer signing for Everton on a two year deal.
  
• Leighton Baines tells the media he is happy at Everton and won't leave.

Everton Football Club have announced plans to expand their current Goodison Park stadium to a 46,000 capacity - before they move in to a new stadium in the summer of 2015.

Goodison Park has been home to Evertonians for 122 years, and is one of the oldest (still in operation) football grounds in Great Britain.

However, the expansion of 6,000 seats will be a reward to fans who have been on a season-ticket waiting list for a matchday place at Goodison, all of them being treated with the chance to go as of next season, their final at their forever home ground.

New manager Roberto Martinez is said to have been a key influence in this fan rewarding - which will only further his growing popularity among Toffee's fans.

Everton have said that their new unnamed stadium is in construction, currently a building site in Kirkby, Merseyside, and is due to open to 55,000 supporters in June 2015.

A great in-depth start to a story with the enemy! Keep it up and good luck for the rest of the season!

2014-05-09 21:25#174087 Jamesg237 : A great in-depth start to a story with the enemy! Keep it up and good luck for the rest of the season!

Haha thanks pal - good job IRL you're soaring higher than 'the enemy' as you so gracefully put it You too mate.