Former Spanish footballer Manolo Martínez has revealed he was once the subject of interest from Leeds United and Sheffield United and wishes he had made the switch.
Martínez has been speaking to Diari de Tarragona about his career so far, which has seen him move from a playing career into management.
He spent the vast majority of his playing days in his native Spain, turning out for the likes of Hércules CF, Gimnàstic, Tenerife and Recreativo Huelva as well as a year with APO Levadiakos in Greece, but never with Leeds or Sheffield United.
He’s now continuing his coaching career in his homeland, with this year seeing him join Gimnàstic as an assistant manager.
“I’ve always been in love with the Premier League,” he said when asked what football he watches these days.
“I’ve always had a thorn in my side because I didn’t play in England. Also, Segunda, Bundesliga and Italian football.
“When I left Tenerife. Sheffield United and Leeds United, who were in the Championship, looked at me. They sent four emissaries to see me.
“They wanted to know how I approached matches against players with the profile of British football. I remember it was a Tenerife-Málaga game, with Caicedo on loan from Manchester City, and a Tenerife-Espanyol game, with Osvaldo.
“Both games went well for me, but in the end, there was no firm offer.”
