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Search forThe third and final instalment of Roberto Martinez's book
Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 08:00
My father's whole life centred around his own football career. Born in Zaragoza he had played for various teams in Spain before joining his last club, Balaguer.
Once his playing career came to an end he became their manager.
I suppose my football career took the opposite path in that I started where my father had finished — by joining Balaguer.
I started playing for my home team and then, when I was 16, I signed professional forms for Real Zaragoza.
One of my first memories as a child is that every Sunday I would be taken to watch my father play football.
As I got older I would still watch his team, although by then he was a manager rather than a player.
The mood changed, depending on the result. There was an understanding in our house that if his team won, then we would have a happy weekend. If they lost, life would be difficult.
My dad was always a fierce competitor who wanted to be a winner.
That attitude was there for me to see, throughout my childhood.
As well as being close to my father, I was also very attached to my mother, Amor, and my sister, Antonieta.
Whenever there was an opportunity, my father and I would play games against each other.
Neither of us wanted to lose, and that winning mentality, which I got from him, was a great learning process as well as being an excellent preparation for being a professional sportsman. The competition was fierce even if there was no ball involved.
Cards, Ludo or any board game — it didn't matter what we played, the atmosphere would be incredibly intense, as both of us pushed for victory.
Despite his battling attitude to everything he did, he was a very pleasant man who was respectful to the winner.
However, I could always tell that, behind the happy congratulatory smile, a deep hurt was hiding.
It was a wonderful environment in which to grow up, but almost always the conversation was about football.
I will never forget my first wage packet as a professional footballer. With the money I bought my mother a fake diamond ring and my father a fake Rolex watch.
Later in my career when I signed for Wigan Athletic, I bought them a real diamond ring and a real Rolex watch, and I am glad to say that they both still use them.
Kicking Every Ball is published by Y Lolfa and is priced £12.95.
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