You could forgive Roberto Martinez if he doesn’t remember much about Stefan Morrison.

The young striker was one of the Spaniard’s signings during his time in charge of Swansea City. He was brought in on a free from West Brom, but it didn’t work out, with Morrison having his contract cancelled just a few months later after a spell on loan with Neath Athletic.

This is what Martinez was doing 10 years ago. On July 10, 2008, he brought Morrison to the Liberty as he began to prepare for Swansea’s first season in the second tier of English football since the mid-1980s.

(Image: Birmingham Post and Mail) (Image: AP)

On July 10, 2018, he will try to plot a way past France and seal Belgium’s place in the World Cup final.

The rise and rise of Roberto Martinez, so the story goes.

With all that has taken place in the last decade, it’s easy to forget that Martinez was the toast of Swansea in the summer of 2008. The man who had carved his reputation as a talented midfielder at the Vetch as he helped steer Swansea away from the threat of relegation from the Football League in 2003 had been brought back in as a rookie manager in the wake of Kenny Jackett’s departure.

And he repaid the faith shown in him by the Liberty powerbrokers by guiding Swansea to a runaway League One title triumph, though celebrations were kept on ice as Leeds United battled to overturn a 15-point penalty.

Ten years ago Martinez spent the summer preparing for life in the Championship. He began it by finalising the signing of Ashley Williams, then added to his squad with the captures of Mark Gower, Gorka Pintado, Fede Bessone and Albert Serran, Jordo Gomez, and Febian Brandy. Oh, and Morrison.

He took charge of a home friendly against Dutch outfit Den Haag and Kris O’Leary’s testimonial game against West Brom, where he pitted his wits against opposition boss Tony Mowbray.

On Tuesday night it will be Didier Deschamps in the opposition dugout as France stand between the Belgians and a place in their first ever World Cup final.

Martinez never did manage to take Swansea out of the Championship. They finished eighth in 2008-09, but his easy-on-the-eye style further endeared him to the club faithful.

Of course, as is football’s way, Swansea couldn’t keep their manager’s success a secret and it wasn’t long until other clubs began to look on enviously.

Celtic were thought to be close to landing Martinez, but in the end it was Wigan, who could offer Premier League football, who got their man.

Some in Swansea vowed never to forgive Martinez, but such anger has subsided over the years. And he handled it in a thoroughly professional manner.

Take this story. In November 2010, Swansea City president Professor David Farmer, a genuinely likeable man who was respected by all who knew him, passed away. On the day of his funeral, Martinez drove from Manchester to Swansea, sat among the mourners at the church service, then got back in his car and headed back to the North West.

No fuss, no fanfare. Just a very classy gesture.

Martinez went on to win the FA Cup with Wigan, then took over at Everton. And it has to be said he did remarkably well to land the Belgium job given he had just been sacked by the Toffees.

But someone in Brussels knew what they were doing.

Belgium are now unbeaten in 24 matches. They have won all five of their games at Russia 2018, with their startling comeback to see off Japan after being 2-0 down eclipsed by their superb 2-1 victory over tournament favourites Brazil in the quarter-finals.

“There is something special in this squad, no doubt about it,” said the Spaniard. “The signs are positive and of a real desire to be on the football pitch.

“I feel we are as ready as we can be. Over the last two years we have been working towards this moment.”

Ten years ago, it is likely Martinez will have spent some of that July afternoon talking with Stefan Morrison, explaining his vision for Swansea and how the striker might fit into it.

Ten years on, he will tell Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne that they can eclipse the threat of Paul Pogba. He will rely on Vincent Kompany, Thibaut Courtois and Co to snuff out the triple threat posed by Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann. And he will look to inspire Romelu Lukaku as the powerhouse striker threatens to torment another top-class defence.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

And he is also banking on the belief that Belgium can re-create the spirit shown on Friday when Brazil threatened to take their last-eight tie to extra time.

He said: “It is the execution of the tactics that matters. The execution was magnificent. I couldn’t be prouder.

“They were incredible, incredible hearts out there. You have to accept Brazil have this finesse, this quality and they are going to break you down. But they didn’t accept that.

“I didn’t think for one minute they were going to give up. This is something special.

“These boys deserve to be really special people back in Belgium. I hope everyone in Belgium is very, very proud.”