Who is Diego Martinez?

By Stephen Kountourou

After over a month of speculation and a very long list of potential candidates, Spanish manager Diego Martinez has officially taken over the helm of Olympiakos. Sports Director Antonio Cordon returned from Spain with the man who he believes can take Thrylos back to the top of Greek football as well as compete on the European stage. 

The two have worked together previously hence Martinez's willingness to come to Piraeus, not only for a new chapter and challenge in his managerial career but also for the chance to work with Cordon again. But who is Diego Martinez?

After a short-lived playing career, Martinez retired at the age of 20 to go into management. He managed a mixture of lower-league and youth sides including Arenas Armilla, Motril and Savilla C where he developed his style of play. He was then promoted to assistant at Sevilla where he was part of the coaching staff that helped win the club's 3rd Europa League title. 

He then became the head coach of Sevilla B and managed to take his side to the Segunda Division. After keeping them up the next season he decided to not renew his contract and move to fellow 2nd division side Osasuna. He was in charge for only a season and left the club after failing to get his side into the promotion playoffs.

The biggest success story of Martinez's career to date was at Granada CF. This was also where he met Antonio Cordon, who was CEO of the Hope Group and employed him as Granada manager. In his first season at the club, he achieved promotion to Laliga. 

In their first season back in the top flight, under Martinez, Granada finished 7th place, qualified for the Europa League and reached the semi-final of the Copa Del Rey. The Spanish coach even guided the club to the Europa League quarter-finals the very next season as well as a 9th-place finish in Laliga. 

After three successful seasons at Granada, Martinez let his contract expire at the end of the 2020/21 season and took a year sabbatical. He spent that time in England watching different Premier League managers and English football matches.

After a year off Martinez joined his most recent club Espanyol on a two-year contract. His time in Barcelona did not go to plan, however, with the club in a relegation battle and poor form throughout his time there. After four losses in a row between the 5th of March and the 1st of April 2023, Martinez was sacked by Espanyol in an attempt to keep their Laliga status. His successor Luis García did no better and Espanyol was relegated to the Segunda Division. 

In an article by breakingthelines.com in 2020, Diego Martinez's style of play during his time at Granada where he was most successful was described as having a strong emphasis on defensive solidity and quick counterattacking while setting up his Granada side in a 4-2-3-1. Granada boasted the defence in the league when they finished 2nd and were promoted to Laliga, conceding only 28 goals in 42 matches and scoring the fifth most of any side in the second division.  

In the Spanish topflight he employed similar tactics, on occasion switching to a 5-3-2 and 4-4-2 depending on the opponent but would mainly trust his 4-2-3-1 formation. He kept his team compact, soaking up the pressure from opponents' attacks and quickly countering themselves to good effect. This was how he was able to achieve the club's first appearance in Europe in their 89-year history. 

With Olympiakos, he will undoubtedly have more freedom to play more attacking football in the Super League and has the players at his disposal to line up in the 4-2-3-1 formation before he has even made a new signing. But for European competition, he also knows how to set up his side in a more defensive style against better-quality opposition from his experience both in Laliga and in the Europa League.

Despite his more recent failure at Espanyol, Antonio Cordon, a highly regarded Sports Director who worked with Martinez in the past, believes he's the right manager for the Piraeus side. This should give Thrylos fans confidence that, given time and recourse to rebuild Olympiakos, the 42-year-old coach can bring the good times back to the club.

@SteveKountourou

Hellas Football