Leicester City and Russell Martin is a match that seems to be increasingly likely to become reality. Ahead of the club’s 2026/27 campaign in League One, Martin is the current favourite to become the new manager at the King Power Stadium.
Reports have stated that City have interviewed the former Southampton and Rangers boss and are in talks over the manager vacancy. The revelations have led to backlash among supporters with sections fearful of the Scotsman’s style of play and track record after lasting less than half a year at Ibrox.
But what are the thoughts of our writers and do they think Martin is the right man for the job?
Leicester City Correspondent Josh Holland
It seems there’s plenty of misconceptions of Martin from his time with Southampton in the Premier League and Rangers after. Since it emerged that the 40-year-old was on City’s radar, I’ve quickly leaned into the idea and found reason for optimism.
For me, Leicester would have little trouble coming out of League One with him in charge. It’s a clear style of play, he has a track record of signing British players and there’s the potential to then compete in the Championship should they be promoted. That’s just a few of the positives.
But on the other side, I completely understand the doubts. When he was at Swansea City, he managed two mid-table finishes. At the Saints, his side defensively were far from solid with 63 goals conceded. Their efforts in the Premier League were bad and his reluctance to change was his downfall.
Russell Martin is the favourite to take over at Leicester City(Image: Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)
It’s also a well-known fact that his nature of sticking to his principles let him down at Rangers. Finally, his reputation, unfairly given, of being ‘arrogant’ when results go against him, means there is a conception of him that gets banded about.
Leicester must be aware of what they’re getting into if they appoint Martin. For me, he should get the job and get the chance to rebuild his own career, he just can’t afford to repeat his mistakes from previous roles.
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Football Writer and Foxes fan Amie Wilson
I’ll admit that if you’d have asked me at the end of the season who I’d want as Leicester manager for next campaign, then Martin’s name wouldn’t have been brought up. I get the apprehension over his possible appointment, and I, in some ways, share the same worries. But it’s not an appointment I’m against either.
The trouble with the appointments at the King Power Stadium since Enzo Maresca’s exit is that there has been no clear way of playing. Going from Steve Cooper, to Ruud van Nistelrooy, to Marti Cifuentes and ending with Gary Rowett it felt like there was no clear style with any of them.
With Martin, there will be no doubt that City will be a possession side. I think that’s the way to lean towards in League One, with most teams expected to sit back and concede possession against us, the one way to counteract that is to pass through or around them.
Players will have a clear idea of what their roles are and what they need to do. That’s something that’s felt like it’s not been there for the last couple of years. Yes, there are concerns, especially in the long-term, with him maybe having to adapt slightly if promotion to the Championship is won.
Enzo Maresca’s Leicester City beat Russell Martin’s Southampton twice in the 2023/24 season(Image: Robin Jones/Getty Images)
He was completely outsmarted by Maresca in the two games in 2024/25, but some time out of the game has hopefully given Martin time to reflect. His time at Rangers is also a concern, but it did feel like he was on an uphill battle from the moment he arrived at Ibrox. Given the reaction, it could be a similar situation at City, with a positive start crucial to get the fans onside.
Football Writer and Foxes fan Kieran King
For me, Martin is the manager I want at Leicester next season. Yes, he will divide the fanbase that’s for sure, but I have confidence that, with the right players, he will take the Foxes back to the Championship at the first time of asking.
His style of football does suit the vast majority of the current squad, including Harry Winks, and I do feel as though it can be a success in League One next season. Alongside this, I think City will have the funds available – given Jeremy Monga and Abdul Fatawu are sold – to strengthen and make it the best-ever squad to be seen in the third tier.
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With that, Martin will be able to imprint his possession-based philosophy on what should be a talented group of players and ensure they are the dominant side in most matches. Although I get that possession doesn’t always end with results, I do think that he showed during his time at Southampton that he can create a winning machine – and I hope he can replicate that at the King Power Stadium.
Football Writer and Foxes fan Daniel Orme
City need to earn promotion from League One next season and Martin has experience of the league, as well as promotion from the division above. Those aspects will no doubt be ticking boxes for the club’s owners.
Harry Winks and Jannik Vestergaard could be two players who benefit from Russell Martin’s arrival(Image: 2024 Plumb Images)
He’s also a huge advocate of the footballing style that they want to see. And that has no doubt contributed to a move.There are certainly players within the squad – Jannik Vestergaard, Harry Winks and more – who thrive in that particular style. But the question remains over whether they will still be at the club next season.
If not – and City don’t sign more players who are comfortable with the ball – is there a reason to even go for Martin in the first place?There is also a major risk of that particular ethos just simply doesn’t work in a league as physical as League One. That is potentially a gamble that the club is willing to take but it could fail spectacularly.
Those signs suggest that it might be more productive to look to a manager who is more tactically adept and can tweak their approach depending on opponents.