Planet Swans ArchivesIn a remarkable season, the rookie manager turned a side that was on the fringes of the play offs last time around into almost certainly Champions with a minimal outlay.
And to cap it all he did it without the presence of the club's top goalscorer for the past four seasons who departed last summer for £1m.
But not content with sitting back knowing he has the gratitude of his board of directors and every Swansea City fan he was now setting his sights on the next goal – a place in the Premiership.
Roberto is a winner and is never content with sitting back and aiming for mid table and whilst the Premiership may seem a distant dream at this moment in time who is to know what the future holds – 29 years ago I suspect that when John Toshack talked aiming for the top of Division One (as was then) the internet message boards would have lit up with jokes had their been an equivalent in the late 1970s.
But with momentum seemingly behind both South Wales clubs at the moment, Roberto was keen to build on that and take the Swans further forward “Welsh football has taken some big steps forward this season,” said the Swans manager in the Western Mail.
“That is what ourselves and Cardiff have been working towards. Next, if we can get together with the FAW, we can work out how to keep club football going in the right direction in Wales.
“If we can do that, success for the Welsh clubs is going to inevitably help John Toshack and his national team.
“It’s always going to be important for Welsh football that its professional teams are playing at the highest level possible. Swansea City being in the Championship is just part of that.
“It helps the clubs produce better players while ensuring any Welsh talents already there keep progressing.”
But Martinez added, “The job is not over yet though. We still need to get Swansea City back where the club should be – and I believe that is in the Premiership.
“The Championship is the next step. Playing week in, week out against those teams at that level can only make us better and it is a wonderful opportunity we need to be ready for.
“Going up is a dream come true for Swansea City. It has taken us 24 years to get to this level and I am so proud of the way we have achieved it.
“We need to enjoy the way we have won promotion. We have done it the Swansea way, full of style.
“Next we need to make sure we are ready to compete in the Championship. There is a huge gap between the two divisions, so we need to be realistic and accept how tough it will be.
“Nor can we stop working until the end of the season, either. We need to concentrate on winning our last three games.
“You don’t get many opportunities, either as players or a manager, to win a title. The players deserve to go up as champions and that’s what I’m looking for.”
