BELGIUM boss Roberto Martinez has revealed he was interviewed for the Celtic manager’s job in 2009.
The former Motherwell midfielder was in the frame after Gordon Strachan, following his four years in charge, had stepped down down from the post.
However, the Spaniard, who was in charge at Swansea City at the time, decided to move to Wigan, where he had spent six years as a player.
Martinez, who will lead his nation against Scotland in tonight’s friendly at Hampden, recalled: “I had conversations and I was always very impressed with the need to bring silverware.
“There was also the prospect of getting to the Champions League through the qualifying rounds and it was always a club that people are attracted to because of the intensity of the fans and what it means.
“But, at that time, I had to go back to where I started my career in the UK and where I started my coaching career at Wigan.
“In life, there has to be the right timing for moves and at that particular time I wasn’t prepared to go away from my beginnings in the UK.
“It was a chance to go and work again with Dave Whelan, who was the man who had brought me to Britain. The opportunity of having conversations with Celtic is something that fills you with pride.
“It is a club with great tradition and a club that demands qualification in the Champions League.
“You can appreciate the status of the football club.”
