NafisaAs both Southampton and Leicester City gear up for a return to the Championship next season, former Saints manager Russell Martin appears poised to become the next Leicester City head coach.
The ex-Swansea City and Milton Keynes Dons boss was dismissed by Southampton in mid-December, with Ivan Juric later overseeing their drop from the Premier League and Simon Rusk currently holding the reins on a temporary basis at St Mary’s.
Leicester endured a similarly disappointing campaign in the top division, with Ruud van Nistelrooy expected to exit the King Power Stadium this summer. He had replaced Steve Cooper just a few weeks before Martin’s departure.
A couple of seasons ago, Leicester lifted the Championship title under Enzo Maresca’s stewardship, while Martin led Southampton to promotion through the play-offs by defeating Leeds United at Wembley.
With both clubs preparing for respective rebuilds over the summer, Martin seems set to take charge at the Foxes, prompting Football League World to revisit what the former Scotland international shared after his Southampton exit earlier this season.
Martin reflects on Premier League lessons:
In his first public remarks since parting ways with Southampton, shared via the Daily Echo following his appearance on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football in March, Martin opened up about the difficulties he faced and the elements he hadn’t fully anticipated during his time managing in the top flight.
The 39-year-old said: “I think the biggest surprise for me was just the athleticism and power. The individual quality and the ruthlessness of the Premier League now. I think it’s just gone up a notch just because of the quality of the talent and the level of athleticism in each team.”
Martin also touched on what he might have handled differently as he assessed his brief stint in charge at the Premier League level for the first time:
“I think recruitment in the Premier League is so important also the athleticism is so, so important.
Even if we wanted to play in the way that we wanted to, to try and dominate the ball, I would prioritise more athleticism if we did it all over again.
If I look back now at the start of the season in the summer, I would have put way more onus on fouling quickly. We needed to be more horrible out of possession. We were pressing a lot, but more detail with that about making contact earlier.”
He was also open about the frustration he experienced after his departure: “I’m frustrated I’m not there anymore but now I know the journey must start somewhere else. I’m enjoying a break, it’s been a lot for 20 years. It’s my first break from football in 20 years.
“I think it’s really difficult to balance being a manager, you have to go in with a long-term view and strategy but short-term, game-to-game, you have to try and fix problems. Try and make sure you’re in a hob long enough to see out your plans. When I signed a new contract in the summer, I was really hoping to.
“It’s always tough when you get promoted to the Premier League, it’s tough for any team but I felt we had a lot of young players and we were trying to grow something.
“Am I surprised by it in football? No, not at all. Of course, I’m disappointed but it’s been so much learning. I’ve learned so much so I feel we’ll definitely be better for it.”
Martin was also candid in acknowledging his own errors:
“I see to many managers and speak to so many coaches who came in to watch us work. After they lose their job, they feel regretful that they too much of what they wanted at the very beginning.
“I don’t feel we did that. I have disappointments over maybe making too many changes or adapting to much.
“The biggest challenge for me was convincing everyone they belonged there and without evidence of winning games, that becomes very difficult.”
Leicester banking on Martin’s experience:
As Martin takes on another significant challenge in the Championship, Leicester fans might take solace in his ability to learn from past mistakes and apply those insights going forward.
Martin is known for his strict possession-based approach to football, and his harshest critics have long pointed to his lack of flexibility and occasional tactical naivety.
But judging by his post-sacking reflections, there’s reason to believe he understands where things went awry and how he might revise his approach should he guide Leicester back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
The Foxes, who were already familiar with a controlled, intricate passing style under Maresca, could prove to be an ideal fit for Martin’s methods. And in the long run, his previous exposure to the top flight might serve as an asset in navigating another promotion push.
Nafisa
