Six months after being , Russell Martin crossed the border to take over as manager of Scottish giant Rangers on Thursday, tasked with regaining the league title from .
Martin guided Southampton to promotion to the Premier League last year but left in December following just one win from the team鈥檚 first 16 games.
The 39-year-old Martin has secured a quick return to management at Rangers, going back to a club where he spent a half season on loan in 2018.
鈥淔rom my time here, I had a taste of how special this club is, the expectation, the passion and the history,鈥� Martin said.
鈥淣ow, as I return, I鈥檓 determined to bring success back, for the supporters, the players, and everyone inside this club. There鈥檚 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.鈥�
Rangers has seen Celtic draw level with its record haul of Scottish league championships 鈥� both now have 55 鈥� by winning the Premiership in 13 of the past 14 seasons.
Rangers won the only other title in that period, under Steven Gerrard in the 2020-21 season.
Martin said he enters one of world soccer鈥檚 biggest rivalries with 鈥渁 lot to prove,鈥� especially given the way Southampton performed in the Premier League last season. Under Martin, the Saints were regarded as being naive in the way they tried to play out from the back and made errors under pressure, leading to conceding cheap goals.
鈥淢y whole career has been based on proving people wrong, really. At every level, I鈥檝e been questioned,鈥� Martin said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always some names in football management that are always a bit more exciting than others. But I feel after 5 1/2 years as a manager, a coach, a leader in this environment, I love doing it and I鈥檓 going to be all-in here with my energy and my love for it. Hopefully that鈥檒l reflect on the pitch.鈥�
Rangers finished last season under the caretaker management of its former captain, Barry Ferguson, after firing Frenchman Philippe Clement in February.
Appointing Martin 鈥� an Englishman who played international soccer for Scotland 鈥� is the latest big move by Rangers after a U.S.-based consortium, which includes an investment arm of , purchased a in the club. Health insurance entrepreneur Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises led a consortium of investors to have bought a 51% stake.
A new sporting director, Kevin Thelwell, officially began work at Rangers on Monday and he oversaw the appointment of Martin.
鈥淭here were a few opportunities since I left Southampton," Martin said, "but I wanted to take time to reflect and review what we鈥檝e learned as a coaching staff and what I鈥檝e learned as a leader and a coach.
鈥淭hat time was really important. When this one was first suggested, this was the one I really wanted."
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AP soccer:
Steve Douglas, The Associated Press
