Leicester City have appointed Russell Martin as their new manager on a three-year contract, handing the former Rangers and Southampton boss the task of reviving a club in freefall.
The 40-year-old drops into English football's third tier to resurrect his own coaching career, his 123-day spell in the Scottish Premiership with Rangers having ended in October. He inherits a Leicester side now in League One following back-to-back relegations.
Martin replaces Gary Rowett, who was unable to keep the Foxes in the Championship during a short-term contract last season after taking charge of a team already hampered by a six-point deduction for previous spending breaches.
"This is a club with great history, strong support and high expectations, and I'm looking forward to getting to know the club, the city and the supporters," Martin said. "My immediate focus is on the team: building strong relationships, setting clear standards and creating performances that supporters can connect with and be proud of."
Years of upheaval
Martin becomes the seventh permanent manager appointed at the King Power Stadium since FA Cup-winning boss Brendan Rodgers departed in April 2023. Dean Smith, Enzo Maresca, Steve Cooper, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Marti Cifuentes and Rowett have all had spells in the dugout during a chaotic spell.
The Foxes have been relegated three times in the past four seasons and promoted just once, with Maresca leaving for Chelsea immediately after steering Leicester to the Championship title in his only campaign in charge in 2023-24. The low point arrived last season, when the points deduction contributed to relegation to League One — a fall that coincided with the 10-year anniversary of the club's astonishing 5,000-1 Premier League title triumph.
A shared philosophy
Martin guided Southampton to promotion to the top flight via a play-off final win over Leeds United in 2024 — the same season Leicester went up as Championship winners. Both manager and club now arrive at this partnership needing to rebuild their reputations.
The possession-heavy, patient passing style that underpinned Southampton's promotion closely mirrors the football Maresca had Leicester playing at the same time. Maresca, now linked with succeeding Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, is the reason the Foxes were keen to appoint Martin last summer before he opted for Rangers — and the reason he has landed the job this time around.
He also brings genuine third-tier knowledge to a club appearing at that level for only the second time in its 142-year history, having begun his managerial career in League One with MK Dons in 2019. It was there that the former Scotland international — who played for Norwich City, Rangers, Wycombe Wanderers and Peterborough United among others — moved into coaching after hanging up his boots.
After leading MK Dons to a 13th-place finish in 2020-21, Martin took charge at Swansea City, spending two seasons in south Wales before his move to Southampton.
Sporting director James McCarron said the new manager would be backed by a clear off-field framework. "Russell will be supported by a football structure focused on alignment, accountability and high standards," he said. "Our role is to make sure the right environment is in place around the team."
