Everton: Roberto Martinez Is Logical Choice to Replace Man Utd-Bound David Moyes

There really was only one option for Everton chairman Bill Kenwright as he searched for a new manager to replace David Moyes.

Once the former Goodison Park boss announced his decision to succeed the retiring Sir Alex Ferguson, Roberto Martinez was installed as favourite to replace the former Celtic defender, a position he had held since February, according to the Daily Mail.

While the presence of former Schalke manager Ralf Rangnick had briefly threatened to upset the bookmakers' odds, as the Daily Mail reported, the deal to bring Martinez to Merseyside rarely seemed threatened.

The 39-year-old Martinez showed commendable loyalty to Wigan Athletic during his time there and established a strong bond with DW Stadium chairman Dave Whelan during his four-year career with the club.

The link between Moyes and Kenwright remained solid for the 11 years of the Scotsman's reign, despite the lack of finances at Everton.

Moyes was brought to Everton in March 2002 after taking Preston North End to the brink of the Premier League when the team were beaten by Bolton Wanderers a year earlier in the playoff final.

Martinez guided Swansea City into the Championship for the first time in 24 years in 2008 on the back of an attractive passing game; they finished eighth in their first season back in the second tier of English football.

During his time at Wigan, Martinez rejected the advances of Aston Villa in June 2011, as BBC Sport reported.

Perhaps more pertinently for Everton supporters, he turned down Liverpool as they sought a replacement for Kenny Dalglish last summer, as The Mirror reported.

Martinez cited Whelan as his reason for staying in West Lancashire, but even the persuasive Latics chairman could not prevent him making the move to Everton today.

The Spaniard, who played as a midfielder for Wigan, Walsall, Motherwell and Swansea during his career, never made it to the very top of the game as a player. However, like Moyes, his managerial career trajectory is grading upwards, and the latest move represents the biggest step of his career to date.

Martinez has already proved to Everton supporters that he knows the way to silverware after Wigan's FA Cup final defeat of Manchester City last month.

On the way to their Wembley date, the former Wigan boss also told his team to take the game to Everton in the quarterfinal at Goodison Park.

The Latics were aided by a woeful Everton display in March, but the notable display of Shaun Maloney particularly deserved the applause from some sections of the Merseyside crowd.

Wigan flirted dangerously with relegation during Martinez's reign as manager before finally succumbing this season with a defeat at Arsenal three days after their Wembley triumph.

But Martinez is still held in high esteem by the Latics supporters, despite leaving the club in the wake of their demotion.

His time at the DW Stadium can be discoloured through the prism of relegation, but Martinez produced some remarkable results and passing football since joining the club in 2009.

But it was the lack of a commanding figure in defence which would eventually play its part in Wigan being demoted this year.

At Everton, Martinez will have England international Phil Jagielka as his captain, while Sylvain Distin remains one of the most consistent performers in the team even at the grand old age of 35.

Martinez will recognise the need for a new striker, however, with Nikica Jelavic having lost form during the season.

Maloney, Callum McManaman and James McCarthy may also be in the sights of the new Everton manager as he considers his options for next season after Whelan admitted there was no deal in place to keep Martinez from raiding his old club, as The Guardian reported.

Perhaps the biggest similarity of all, though, comes with the future with both men having huge shoes to fill.