'It is a privilege': Russell Martin appointed as new Rangers head coach

Rangers have unveiled Russell Martin as the club’s new head coach, with the former Scotland international signing a three-year contract at Ibrox.

Martin emerged as the club’s number one choice after a number of candidates were considered, and will now lead the team through a summer of change and into a new era at Ibrox.

The 39-year-old, who had a brief spell as a Rangers player in 2018, returns to the club having built experience as a manager with Milton Keynes Dons, Swansea City and Southampton.

Martin said it was a “privilege” to have been chosen to lead the team and said he was determined to build a team the support would be proud of.

“It is a privilege to be named head coach of Rangers Football Club at the beginning of this exciting new chapter,” he said.

“I know what this club demands. From my time here, I had a taste of how special this club is, the expectation, the passion and the history.

“Now, as I return, I’m determined to bring success back, for the supporters, the players, and everyone inside this club.

“I’m here to set standards, work hard and do my very best to earn the respect of the Rangers fans.

“There’s a lot to be done, but the goal is clear: win matches, win trophies, and give Rangers fans a team that they can be proud of. We want to play with bravery, to take the ball, to be aggressive, and to stand up in the big moments.

“Preparations for pre-season are already underway. I look forward to meeting the players and building a squad that our fans can believe in.”

Martin’s appointment comes days after the boardroom takeover of Rangers by an American consortium led by health tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprise, the investment arm of American football side San Francisco 49ers, who also run Leeds United.

The new owners have wasted no time in starting to reshape the football department, with technical director Nils Koppen to leave the club and former Everton recruitment head Dan Purdy set to replace him.

Martin is the permanent successor to Philippe Clement, who was sacked in February after a disappointing run of results. Former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson headed up an interim coaching team that guided the team until the end of the season, while a recruitment process took place.

The club’s recently appointed sporting director Kevin Thelwell, and technical director of 49ers Enterprises Gretar Steinsson, lead the search for the new head coach and considered several candidates, with Steven Gerrard, who won the title with Rangers linked with a return and former Real Madrid coach Davide Ancelotti long considered the front-runner.

Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart said: ““Our criteria for our next coach were clear: we wanted a coach who will excel in terms of how we want to play, improve our culture, develop our squad, and ultimately win matches. Russell was the standout candidate.

“This appointment is about building a winning team and a strong culture. He is no stranger to our club, we expect success and Russell knows that. We are excited for his leadership.””

Thelwell added: “Through the many conversations Patrick and I have had with Russell in recent weeks, he has emerged as the outstanding candidate.

“Russell comes to Rangers with hard-earned experience. His time in the Premier League has sharpened his approach, both tactically and personally. He’s better for it, and we believe that will translate into the kind of leadership and performance our supporters expect.

“His teams play dominant football, they control the ball, dictate the tempo and impose themselves physically. They press aggressively and work relentlessly off the ball. These are all characteristics that we believe are required to be successful at home, away, and abroad.

“We’re looking forward to getting to work with Russell immediately as we prepare for a demanding and important season ahead.”

New Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh said: “I am delighted to welcome Russell to Rangers. This was a thorough, rigorous process and Russell impressed throughout. His appointment embodies the club’s goal of attracting top talent, empowering them, and supporting them.

“We believe that Russell can improve on-pitch performance while also helping build the culture and infrastructure necessary for consistent and long-term success.”

Martin has been chosen to take the team forward and will now take a major step in his own career.

The former centre-back had 15 years as a professional player, beginning at Lewes and then Wycombe Wanderers before moving to Peterborough United in 2008. A successful loan spell at Norwich turned into a permanent move and he spent eight years with the Canaries, making over 300 appearances.

Towards the end of his time at Carrow Road, Martin was loaned to Rangers for the second half of the 2017-18 season.

Though he played for the Ibrox side 17 times, scoring once, his move wasn’t a success and he admitted it was a case of “wrong place, wrong time” playing under interim boss Graeme Murty.

However, Martin did say he “loved playing for a football club of that size and that support”.

“I don’t think anything can prepare you for it,” he said at the time. “It’s huge. You’ve got an idea of how huge but it’s only when you go up there that you realise just how big it is.

“Just walking around the streets… it’s a giant of a football club with a great fanbase.”

After a brief spell at Walsall, the 29-times -capped Scotland international ended his career at MK Dons, where he took his first steps into management. Succeeding Paul Tidsdale, he introduced a possession-based style of play , which provided mixed results but caught the eye of Swansea City, who made him their new manager in 2021.

Martin delivered 15th and tenth-place finishes in the Championship before he moved to Southampton and enjoyed instant success. While earning plaudits for the side’s playing style, the team won promotion to the Premier League after defeating Leeds United in the play-off.

Southampton found life difficult in the top flight and Martin was regularly criticised for sticking with his preferred style and not adopting a more pragmatic approach against elite level teams. He was sacked in December of last year with the team at the foot of the table.

He returns to management to front a new era at Rangers, and will be expected to hit the ground running with a new-look team as the Ibrox club and the new owners look to deliver success in domestic competition and progress in Europe.