Russell Martin 'determined' to bring success to Rangers
Russell Martin says he is determined to bring success to Rangers after being appointed as their new head coach.
The former MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton boss has signed a three-year deal to take over at Ibrox.
Martin has been chosen after the club held talks with a number of candidates including Davide Ancelotti and Steven Gerrard.
The 39-year old will work closely with new sporting director Kevin Thelwell and chief executive Patrick Stewart.
It is the first managerial appointment of the new consortium that has taken over the club, led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises.
Speaking to the club's official website, Russell Martin said: "It is a privilege to be named Head Coach of Rangers Football Club at the beginning of this exciting new chapter.
"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."
Chief executive, Patrick Stewart, added: “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.”
Sporting director, Kevin Thelwell commented: “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.”
--
Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.