Russell Martin: The Frontrunner to Take the Reins at Rangers
According to Sky Sports, Russell Martin is a strong character who never backs away from a challenge. This praise came from one of his former Norwich and Scotland teammates, Steven Naismith, who believes Martin “ticks the most boxes” as Rangers get set to announce Philippe Clement’s permanent successor.
The new American owners’ first big decision will see Martin handed his fourth head coach job at just 39. A glance at his Southampton tenure last season probably isn’t encouraging for supporters – one win in 16 and sacked before Christmas, but that’s just a small part of his coaching career so far. As reported by Sky Sports, here we take a look at the person, the coach and what the Rangers supporters can expect from the former Ibrox defender.
Martin has had a varied and interesting life, both on and off the pitch. Cleaning toilets before school, night shifts in a supermarket, becoming a student of Buddhism and being vegan are not things you would expect to write about a ‘normal’ football manager. However, to understand Russell Martin the coach you need to know Russell Martin the person. As Sky Sports reports, he has made no secret of a complex relationship with his Scottish father, saying there was “too much violence” from his dad towards his mum Kerry and told The Times in 2023 his “whole world revolved around proving him wrong and making him proud.”
Martin’s playing career started with Wycombe before he moved to Peterborough United and then Norwich City, where he made over 300 appearances and achieved back-to-back promotions from League One with Paul Lambert in charge. He was also capped 29 times for Scotland, with his first appearance coming as a late substitute in a 3-1 win over Wales in 2011. As Sky Sports notes, Martin was loaned to Rangers in January 2018 during the Graeme Murty era, making his debut against Aberdeen that month and scoring his only goal for the club in a 2-0 victory over Hearts in February.
Martin’s coaching career started when he was offered the chance to take charge at MK Dons by then-chairman. He spent two seasons at the club before moving on to Swansea City and then Southampton, where he earned promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking. Sky Sports state that he took them into the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Despite being sacked before Christmas at Southampton, Martin remained optimistic and told Sky Sports that, “The goalkeeper’s a big part of that and creating the spare man. It’s always about finding the spare man early on in the concept and then take territory and play forward, but always with purpose.” Martin’s long-term vision saw his teams creating a British record with a goal scored from a 56-pass move in March 2021.
Steven Naismith played over 50 times alongside Martin at Norwich and Scotland and, according to Sky Sports, believes Martin would tick the boxes for what’s required at Rangers, saying, “I think he’s probably the most suitable candidate.” Angus Gunn, the Scotland goalkeeper, who played with Martin at Norwich, shared his thoughts, saying, “He’s a very intellectual guy. I went in there as a young goalkeeper and he helped me massively.”
In conclusion, Sky Sports analysts reckon Martin has potential as a first rate gaffer for rangers after greatest Championship vicinity study.
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