Belgium coach Roberto Martinez admits he wanted to sign Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher for Everton.

However, Everton chairman Bill Kenwright blocked his plans.

“Bill Kenwright is a magnificent chairman for Everton," Martinez told Carragher on the latter's Greatest Game Podcast.

“A true, true Blue.

“I remember that we were looking for an assistant. Yes (a player-coach). I remember when we were at Everton we were discussing the assistant role.

“I knew you were a Blue when you were a youngster so I thought that could be a good fit but when I mentioned it to our great chairman, Bill Kenwright, he thought maybe you were a little bit too Red for the role."

He also said: “I tried to sign you for Wigan as well. I always felt that there are systems that need an age, a youth or an experience.

“In a back three, the way we wanted to play, I think having an old head with experience could work.

“I always saw you that you could be perfect in that role. You could play in a back three and slowly have that opportunity to develop young players and the coaching side."