The Portugal manager was in charge of Premier League side Everton for three years.
12:46, 13 Nov 2025
Seamus Coleman of Everton in action as Roberto Martinez looks on(Image: Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Roberto Martinez reckons he had the best right-back in the Premier League during his time in charge of Everton.
But while Seamus Coleman came in for some expected praise from the Portugal manager, he threw in a surprise name when he declared who he was glad he was NOT going to face tonight.
James McCarthy hasn’t played a first-team game in three years, since Celtic’s Scottish League Cup win away to Motherwell, while his last Ireland appearance was five years ago.
At the age of 34, he may be one of football’s forgotten men, but clearly he has left a lasting impression on his former manager Martinez.
Martinez managed McCarthy at Wigan and then he took him to Everton in September 2013.
He was asked about Coleman when he brought up the former midfielder, who played 43 times for Ireland.
“In general I think it’s not fair for me to speak about Seamus, because I love him to bits,” said the Portugal boss.
“Obviously I enjoyed being alongside him and I saw the best right-back in the Premier League in the season 2013/14. So anything I say is going to be quite biased.
“I think now you can see the experience, he uses his experience quite well, he is always communicating, he is always organising players.
“He is somebody who is very important in the set-up.”
Then he added: “I’m just glad James McCarthy is not playing. He is a player I wouldn’t like to play against.
James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman(Image: Andrew Surma/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“But obviously Seamus is still a very important part of the set-up. Not for what he is going to do on the pitch, because we all know what he can do, but because of what he brings to the dressing room as well, and that can be as special and important in a national team.”
Martinez believes his talented team is in for a tough night tonight in Dublin.
“Ireland are a well-organised team that looks very synchronised,” he said. “At times it’s difficult to get teams at national level, when you have only three days to work, to get that synchronisation.
“That’s down to the meaning of playing for Ireland. The players are really committed and the coach gives really clear instructions.
“What we saw in Lisbon was a very well-organised team defending but with a lot of intelligence as well.
“I think we’ll see another side of Ireland tomorrow, that Ireland are dangerous on the ball in their attacking threat.
“They use their deadball situations very well, from throw-ins in the final third to corners as you can imagine.
“They have a system with three centre-backs, who have a lot of presence in both boxes.
That’s a big part of this Irish team but if I was to highlight something, it’s the purpose and passion the players have to represent the Irish jersey.”
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