Russell Martin is confident he can win over the sceptics that have questioned his appointment as Rangers boss.
Martin was named as the club’s new head coach this morning on a three-year deal despite plenty of negative reaction from the club’s supporters when speculation started linking the 39-year-old with the Ibrox vacancy.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) June 5, 2025
Martin was widely criticised for his refusal to change his approach at Southampton despite a woeful start to last season that saw him sacked in December with the club bottom of the Premier League.
But he was in bullish mood when he addressed the media this morning.
He said: “To the fans, I have to win. I don’t think I’ve been the number one choice at any club I’ve been at. By the time we’ve left every team I’ve been at, we’ve formed a real connection with the supporters. I hope this will be the same.
“My whole playing career was based on hard work and resilience. It was not done on talent.”
I want a Rangers team that gives everything – Martin
He added: “The supporters are the most important people at any football club.
“My job is to give them a team they identify with and they are proud of. A team that wins.
“A team that’s going to give everything. One thing that’s always overlooked with our teams is they always run the most out of possession, because they have to if they want to dominate the ball and be aggressive.
“It’s not a given, it’s an attribute – you need to work hard, not everyone has that. We want people like that to come to the club.”
It’s not about style – Martin
Martin’s philosophy throughout a managerial career that has also included spells at MK Dons and Swansea has been to play out from the back – an approach that has led to success and failure.
But he was quick to stress the most important aspect of his job will be to instill a work ethic that can help the club close the gap on Celtic.
“It’s not about style, it’s about consistent level of application and desire and intensity, because things will change week-to-week in terms of what we’re up against,” he said.
“What I want them to see is the same mentality all the time because the game throws up a lot of variables after that.”
✍️ Our new Head Coach, Russell Martin. pic.twitter.com/rgL9Qx0UOX
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) June 5, 2025
All about the trophies – Martin
Asked what would constitute success for him in Glasgow, he said: “It’s to win trophies.
“It’s to build a culture that we are proud of and people can feel when they come into the building. An environment of hard work, of honestly and of openness.
“To see a team that doesn’t look different every week, that is always trying to improve and develop in our own way, rather than focusing on the opposition too much. We’re going to do it our way and we’re all going to be on the same page.
“We have to improve the team on the pitch and improve the environment off the pitch.”
