Leicester close in on Martin appointment
Article excerpt
Russell Martin, who guided Southampton to promotion into the Premier League last season, is close to joining Leicester City as manager. Martin has been without a job since Rangers fired him in October, making him available after a successful stint developing Southampton's young squad. The appointment would give Leicester a manager with recent experience navigating promotion campaigns and rebuilding projects, though details on contract terms and timing remain unconfirmed.
Russell Martin played for Wycombe, Peterborough, Norwich, Walsall and MK Dons during his career [PA Media]
Russell Martin is close to being appointed Leicester manager.
The former Scotland defender, 40, is due to return to management for the first time since being sacked by Rangers in October.
A final decision was due this weekend.
Leicester were keen on appointing Martin last summer before he joined Rangers.
The Foxes went on to appoint Marti Cifuentes, who was sacked in January after six months in charge.
Under interim boss Gary Rowett, Leicester dropped into League One, suffering back-to-back relegations after their Premier League demotion in 2024-25.
They were docked six points for breaching English Football League financial rules.
Martin lasted only 17 games at Rangers - he was sacked when they were eighth in the Scottish Premiership - and had a number of options this summer.
Martin, who has also managed MK Dons and Swansea, led Southampton to the Premier League by winning the Championship play-offs in 2023-24.
He will be Leicester's seventh manager in just over three years since the departure of Brendan Rogers in April 2023.