Martinez hails PFA success in raising club's profile

Apr 29 2008 by Blair Wood, Western Mail

ROBERTO MARTINEZ is confident Swansea City’s “huge” success at the PFA Awards will be another key step in raising the club’s profile.

Such is the respect among their peers for the Swans’ achievements this season, the club had five players included in the League One Team of the Year.

Voted for by their fellow professionals, the awards have been referred to as the “ultimate compliment” by Swans skipper Garry Monk. And it clearly means a lot to his manager as well.

Martinez chose to see the results as another indication that Swansea are the best team in their division.

But, far from being content with having five players included, the Spaniard believes the likes of Dorus de Vries, Tom Butler, Leon Britton and Darren Pratley should also have been acknowledged.

“It’s a huge achievement for this club,” he beamed. “To make such an impact is brilliant.

“I still look at another four or five players that were very unlucky to miss out. But I suppose you can’t expect to have all 11 players.

“It really raises the profile of the club and it will get a lot of people talking about Swansea City. It’s a clear reflection of our success this season.”

With Cardiff and Wrexham failing to have any players in their respective Championship and League Two teams, Swansea were the only Welsh club represented at the awards on Sunday. But Wales international Wayne Hennessey was voted as the best goalkeeper in the Championship.

PFA teams of the year

Premier League: David James (Portsmouth), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).

Championship: Wayne Hennessy (Wolves), Bradley Orr (Bristol City), Ryan Shawcross (Stoke), Dan Shittu (Watford), Paul Robinson (West Brom), Brian Howard (Barnsley), Marvin Elliott (Bristol City), Liam Lawrence (Stoke), Jonathan Greening (West Brom), Ricardo Fuller (Stoke), Kevin Phillips (West Brom).

League One: Kieren Westwood (Carlisle), Angel Rangel (Swansea), Garry Monk (Swansea), Danny Livesey (Carlisle), Julian Bennett (Nottm Forest), Andy Robinson (Swansea), Ferrie Bodde (Swansea), Kris Commons (Nottm Forest), Richie Wellens (Doncaster), Jermaine Beckford (Leeds), Jason Scotland (Swansea).