How Russell Martin beat Champions League winner to Rangers job after agreeing terms with Leicester City

Add as preferred source on Google

Rangers are closing in on the appointment of Russell Martin as their new manager after he was linked with taking the Leicester City job.

Leicester City were relegated from the Premier League this season and are now preparing for life in the Championship again, with changes in the dugout imminent this summer.

After overseeing the Foxes’ relegation, Ruud van Nistelrooy has been expected to be sacked by the Leicester hierarchy.

Former Southampton boss Russell Martin had long been thought of as the favourite to replace van Nistelrooy, but was not named as the new Leicester boss as Steven Gerrard’s proposed move to Rangers fell through.

As such, the Ibrox outfit came back on Scotsman Martin’s radar, and Rangers are now “closing in on the appointment” of Martin. EFL Analysis can exclusively reveal how Martin won the appointment race.

• READ MORE: It’s so obvious who Leicester City’s next manager should be after Russell Martin snub

How Russell Martin won Rangers job race after Leicester City snub

Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news on X: “Rangers are closing in on the appointment of Russell Martin as new head coach. Former Southampton manager has already accepted the project, ready for new chapter.”

On how that came to fruition, EFL Analysis understands via our Chief Football Correspondent Graeme Bailey, that Martin had held fresh talks with Rangers’ US owners last week and won them over ahead of Davide Ancelotti, the son of ex-Real Madrid boss Carlo, and former Sunderland target Francesco Farioli.

Additionally, fellow candidate and former Champions League winner as a player with Liverpool, Gerrard, had ruled it out by this point.

Given that Martin is a former player who featured 17 times on loan at Rangers, as well as his footballing philosophy, the Rangers hierarchy were convinced that he is the way to go.

The new owners, led by Andrew Cavanagh, want to play the kind of expansive football which Martin has become recognised for as a head coach.

In terms of Leicester, the Foxes learned of the new interest last week, causing them to backtrack and claim that Martin was only a contender, despite having agreed terms with the Scotsman.

Regarding their immediate search, Leicester are again assessing options in the wake of Martin’s imminent move to Ibrox, and still plan on moving on from van Nistelrooy at this point.

With Leicester’s pursuit of Martin over, the Foxes have three clear candidates waiting in the wings, which is not the only issue the club must resolve amid a crucial summer of business.

• READ MORE: Leicester City star hints that he could be staying despite Premier League interest

Leicester City must solve two crucial issues ahead of 25/26 season

Matters at the King Power Stadium are turbulent in the post-season summer.

Leicester face a minimum 12-point deduction going into their 2025/26 Championship campaign, which would be a major detriment to their aspirations of instant promotion to the top flight.

Despite the potential PSR breaches, the Foxes shouldn’t be forced to sell and are expected to be given a sizeable transfer budget this summer, to aid whichever head coach takes to the dugout next term.

Regarding said manager, the three options waiting in the wings for Leicester are current Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl, however, it is expected Rohl will return to Germany this summer.

Former Hull City boss Liam Rosenior is admired by Leicester, but would need a Premier League move to tempt him away from the Strasbourg project.

Ex-Everton boss Sean Dyche is also in contention for the Foxes role, and we are told he does want the job, after being sacked by the Toffees earlier this year.

The financial burdens Leicester are dealing with, and the ongoing search for van Nistelrooy’s permanent successor, are the two unenviable tasks the club’s hierarchy must deal with quickly this summer, or risk jeopardising their promotion potential.