SKYSPORT REVEALS LITTLE-KNOWN RUSSEL MARTIN STATS AT EVERY CLUB HE HAS COACHED WHICH MAY CHANGE EVERYTHING FOR RANGERS

RUSSELL MARTIN has revealed Rangers were ALWAYS his first choice.

And that’s despite the fact his agent told him to play DOWN his interest in the role.

Martin, 39, was confirmed as the Ibrox club’s new head coach this morning.

The former Norwich City, Scotland and Gers defender had been out of work since being sacked by Southampton in December 2024 after their disastrous Premier League run.

Martin decided to take a break after his dismissal from the south coast club and passed up on opportunities to immediately return to the dugout.

A few months later, Philippe Clement was sacked by Rangers and Martin knew straight away that he wanted the job.

He’s had to bide his time, first as Barry Ferguson came in as interim boss and then as the club created a shortlist that included Davide Ancelotti and Steven Gerrard.

In that time, Martin became linked with the Leicester City job.

But it wasn’t enough to change Martin’s mind that Rangers were the outstanding club for him.

And it just so happened that he was the outstanding candidate for both chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell.

Martin said in his first press conference today: “I’ll be really honest, there were a few opportunities since I left Southampton, early on.

“Then I had a bit of a break, I was keen to get back into things around February and March time.

“I had some tentative approaches but I wanted to reflect on what I’ve learnt as a coach, a leader and that time was important.

“As soon as the Rangers job came up, this was the one I really wanted.

“I wanted it because of the expectation, the size of the club and what it means to people.

“Rangers is something completely different to anything else in football and I felt that when I was here as a player.

“That comes into my mind too, that the one thing that hurt me when I look back on my career is that it didn’t go well here.

“I’m desperate to show a different version of myself here than I did previously.

“So with all that in mind I was really honest from the outset that I wanted to be the Rangers manager and that this was my first choice.

“My agent kept saying to me to play my cards close to my chest but I was really open and honest and now I’m delighted to be here.”

Martin told fans how he wants his team to play but knows his main priority is to win.

And, he believes he can turn the Light Blues into title challengers this season.

He said: “We’ve managed three clubs and the teams were all really different, but we had the same concept of the game.

“We wanted to be aggressive on the ball and without it. You can’t have one without the other.

“But I’ve used different formations, shapes and personnel.

“We are here to WIN and we’ll do that in the best way we possibly can.

“I think we can have a team that is better, wins more points, wins more games. And competes, really competes to win trophies.”

Some Rangers fans are lukewarm on Martin’s appointment to say the least.

And to those sections of the support, Martin delivered a personal message – insisting that he’s won fans over before at EVERY club he’s been at.

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.

“At MK Dons to go from a player to become a manager is a bit of a surprise to the fans.

“At Swansea they were being linked with all sorts, they had lost in the play-off final then we turned up from League One.

“At Southampton the same, they had just been relegated from the Premier League and I’m sure there were loads of names linked with the job.

“But by the time I’ve left every club I’ve felt a real connection with the fans, they are right behind us, and definitely the players and the playing staff. Hopefully this will be the same.

“And I hope the fans judge me on this moment, not on my playing career here, because that was very different.”