As England prepare to face Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday evening (8pm), former Cheltenham Town loanee Neil Cutler reflects on helping develop one of the world's best goalkeepers
10:22, 15 Jul 2026Updated 10:24, 15 Jul 2026
Emiliano Martinez and Lionel Messi of Argentina look on before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Argentina and Switzerland at Kansas City Stadium on July 11, 2026
View 3 Images
Emiliano Martinez and Lionel Messi of Argentina look on before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Argentina and Switzerland at Kansas City Stadium on July 11, 2026 (Image: Getty Images)
One of the major obstacles England must overcome if they are to reach their first World Cup final since 1966 on Wednesday is Argentina’s last line of defence, Emiliano Martinez.
The Aston Villa star is widely regarded as one of the world’s best, having won the Golden Glove as the tournament’s top goalkeeper when Argentina triumphed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Martinez, 33, was coached in his early days at Villa by former Cheltenham Town goalkeeper Neil Cutler, who helped facilitate his £20m move from Arsenal in September 2020.
The pair formed a close bond during their time together, with Martinez later describing Cutler as "the best English goalkeeping coach by miles".
It was the club’s second season back in the Premier League and Cutler was backed by manager Dean Smith and his staff to bring in a new number one.
"They trusted my opinion and I knew Emi would suit me best in the way I work and all the stats said he would fit in with the way we played," Cutler told Gloucestershire Live.
"Personality-wise, he ticked every single box, plus his technical and tactical ability and his desire to improve.
"He is South American in style, quick, athletic and powerful, but he also has an English way about him biomechanically, holding his shape really well, which suits the way I work down to a tee.
"When I rang him and told him my thoughts about how I'd develop him and the way the club was moving forward, he bought into it straight away and said, 'That's it, I'm coming.'
"That was a huge moment for us. I remember putting on presentations for his agents, sitting down with them and explaining where I wanted to take him and how I wanted to develop him, and it all came to fruition."
Argentina's Emi Martinez receives the golden glove award after 2022 World Cup final win over France
View 3 Images
Argentina's Emi Martinez receives the golden glove award after 2022 World Cup final win over France (Image: 2022 Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos)
After Unai Emery took over from Steven Gerrard as Villa boss and brought his own coaching staff with him, Cutler left the club in October 2022.
But due to the closeness of his relationship with Martinez, Cutler was invited to join the Argentina squad for a pre-World Cup training camp in Miami ahead of Qatar
"The build-up to that World Cup was three years in the making really, developing Emi," Cutler said.
"He has an excellent goalkeeping coach with Argentina in Martin (Tocalli) and we worked hard together to make him ready for the biggest stage in the world.
"Martin is a very open, good guy who was willing to buy into my ideas and the way I worked. Being there with Argentina was an unbelievable experience for me.
"Once I saw them work, their togetherness and even their love of dancing and singing together, I told a lot of people they looked ready to win the World Cup."
Martinez went on to excel as Lionel Messi’s Argentina lifted football’s biggest prize for a third time.
It was a proud moment for Cutler, who is now goalkeeping coach at Premier League Sunderland.
He joined then-Southern League Premier Division side Cheltenham on loan from West Bromwich Albion in the mid-90s, showing the potential that would eventually see him play in the Premier League for Villa and also shine for the likes of Stoke City and Rotherham United.
Neil Cutler in action for Cheltenham Town during his loan spell from West Bromwich Albion
View 3 Images
Neil Cutler in action for Cheltenham Town during his loan spell from West Bromwich Albion
On his time at Cheltenham, which gave him his first taste of senior football at the age of 18, Cutler said: "It was an unbelievable experience for me, which set me up for what I was going to go through later on in my career.
"It was exactly what I needed, creating a competitive environment and knowing we had to win games.
"It was a challenge going into the non-league scene, having come from the national youth set-up at Lilleshall, with top players and top pitches. I tried to bring across my passion and desire to win games from an early age and it’s something I’ve had instilled ever since.
"I always tell my young goalkeepers now to go and experience senior football as early as they can and take it all in. That’s what I did and those experiences I gained from a young age have helped me with my coaching career as well."
By far the biggest crowd Cutler experienced in a Cheltenham shirt came in a 2-1 Boxing Day derby win over Gloucester City at Meadow Park, with 3,108 in attendance.
"I can still picture that game clearly in my mind now, nearly 30 years on, and playing in front of crowds like that at such a young age set me up so well for my career," he said.
"It was such a big game for the area and I was able to thrive on the atmosphere, rather than worrying about it and shying away into my shell. I wanted to show people what I could do and it was a perfect learning experience for me."
Cutler, now 49, has been back to Whaddon Road several times since, both as a player and a coach.
"I will always be fond of the club and, going back, you can see how things have changed with the new stands and how much the place is progressing, so hopefully that can continue."
Article continues below