Nigel Martyn failed to play once for Leeds United during the 2002-03 campaign having played every single game the season prior, and being England’s second-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup.
The Leeds icon clocked up a whopping 273 appearances for the club during the seven years he spent at Elland Road from 1996 to 2003. But it would have been north of 300 had he played during 2002-03.
Martyn had just clocked up a huge 49 appearances in all competitions during 2001-02 for Leeds. Such form saw Martyn picked as second-choice goalkeeper by Sven-Goran Eriksson for the 2002 World Cup.
David Seaman of course, played every game for the Three Lions in Japan and Korea as England reached the quarter-finals as they lost to Brazil. Martyn had just 12 days off before reporting for Leeds training.
Martyn shares call where Venables warned he’d not play again
The Leeds icon explains how Arsenal and Manchester United players would get a month off from when their countries were knocked out. But in less than half that time, Martyn was back in Leeds training.
David O’Leary had been sacked and Terry Venables was manager and Martyn told Undr The Cosh that he refused to go on a pre-season trip back to the East, and it saw Venables react angrily while on the phone.
“My situation was, I’d played every game that season [01-02]. Got picked for the World Cup, went to Japan and Korea. Came back and had to report after 12 days off for pre-season. It’s not long enough. Man U and Arsenal players get a month after you’ve been knocked out. David O’Leary was sacked.
“Terry [Venables] was manager but he wasn’t in and Eddie Gray was taking training. Eddie said we’re going on a trip to Australia, China and Thailand. I said, I’ve just come from there, can I not go on that trip. I told Eddie, I’ve just come from that part of the world, I’m knackered, I want a bit of time with my family.
“Eddie said the new manager isn’t going to like that. Phone rings, pick it up. ‘Hi Nigel, you’re not coming on the trip?’ I said ‘you’ve been England manager, played every game last season, not missed a session, gone to a world cup, I’m knackered. If you want me at my best, let me do that’,” Martyn said.
“Venables said, ‘if you don’t come on this trip, you’re never playing for Leeds again’. He put the phone down. I asked the secretary where is he? He’d been manager for a week but he hadn’t arrived. She said he was filming ‘Wish you were here’.
“I jogged out, I’ve gone back to Sutts [Steve Sutton], I said ‘not great’. I said, Robbo {Paul Robinson], you’re playing next season. There wasn’t a part of me that wanted to go, the way I’m feeling, I don’t care. I needed a break. I still had to train everyday when they went on tour,” Martyn continued.
Martyn actually claims he wanted to join Everton over Leeds
Prior to his comments on Venables casting Martyn aside and only including him in the Leeds squad on a few occasions, Martyn shares how his move to Elland Road came about back in the summer of 1996.
With Howard Wilkinson as manager, Leeds bought Martyn from Crystal Palace some 28 years ago. But Martyn shares how he wanted to join Everton and a move to The Toffees was on until the last minute.
“Howard Wilkinson was there and Leeds were the exact opposite. They said ‘you’re signing for us’. Leeds really did everything they could. Joe Royle wouldn’t have let that happen,” Martyn said on his move.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
