Russell Martin (footballer)

Russell Martin
Martin in 2019
Personal information
Full name Russell Kenneth Alexander Martin
Date of birth (1986-01-04) 4 January 1986
Place of birth Brighton, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Rangers (head coach)
Youth career
2003–2004 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004 Lewes
2004–2008 Wycombe Wanderers 116 (5)
2008–2010 Peterborough United 56 (1)
2009–2010Norwich City (loan) 6 (0)
2010–2018 Norwich City 284 (16)
2018Rangers (loan) 15 (1)
2018–2019 Walsall 8 (0)
2019 Milton Keynes Dons 24 (2)
Total 509 (25)
International career
2011–2017 Scotland 29 (0)
Managerial career
2019–2021 Milton Keynes Dons
2021–2023 Swansea City
2023–2024 Southampton
2025– Rangers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Russell Kenneth Alexander Martin (born 4 January 1986) is a professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of Scottish Premiership club Rangers. Born in England, he represented Scotland at international level.

A former defender, Martin began his playing career at Brighton & Hove Albion's youth academy. He established himself at Wycombe Wanderers in 2004, before moving to Peterborough United in 2008. Martin joined Norwich City in 2010 and made 309 appearances for the club. He then had brief spells with Rangers, Walsall and Milton Keynes Dons. During his playing career, Martin won five promotions (including two promotions to the Premier League) and was named in the 2014–15 Championship Team of the Year by the Professional Footballers' Association.

Although born in Brighton, England, Martin played in 29 internationals for Scotland. He moved into management in 2019 with Milton Keynes Dons and became head coach of Swansea City in 2021. Two years later, he was appointed manager of Southampton. He guided them to promotion to the Premier League by winning the playoffs, but was sacked in December 2024. Martin was made head coach of Rangers in June 2025.