Martin Russell - He Says.

[davieG]

‘Approach It With Fresh Energy’ – Martin After City Appointment

 

Russell Martin says he is ready to attack the challenge head on after being appointed Leicester City Manager on a three-year contract.
The 40-year-old’s extensive CV includes managerial roles in the Premier League, Football League and Scotland, following a distinguished playing career at varying levels of English football.
Speaking about his ambitions coming into the Football Club, the former Southampton manager is excited by the prospect of starting anew and creating something special at King Power Stadium, with work beginning in earnest to prepare for the start of the 26/27 campaign in League One.
“I'm very happy to get it done and just really looking forward to getting started properly, meeting everyone, and then getting out on the grass and working with the players,” Martin told us in his first interview since taking charge this week.
“I've had a bit of a break, so this one was always going to be about how I felt about it, the process and the people I've met, James [McCarron], Jon [Rudkin], the Chairman. It's been really fantastic and it's just really exciting.
russell-martin
“I think it’s a chance to build something here with big energy and build some connections with what we're going to try and do. The excitement, and the feeling I had about it all, was the biggest attraction, feeling that it's going to be a really amazing experience.”
Discussing his approach to the game, Martin explained how his thinking is firstly built on the mentality of pulling together in order to achieve the desired outcome, before the focus shifts to on-pitch matters.
He continued: “The energy that we have together, fans, players, staff, it's going to take a huge amount of energy, a big team effort. It's going to take everyone. I think that can be so powerful. If we can build that and build something that everyone really believes in and feels proud of, then we can have a really exciting season.
“My job is to bring that energy myself, to convince the players to bring that energy and the staff around everyone else. It's not about me, it's not about one person, it's not about anything else and us being together and just aiming and heading in the right direction, in the same direction, and giving everything.
“The only thing I'm ever going to ask from the players and the staff here, and of myself, is to be all in and give everything I possibly can, and for them to do the same when on the training pitch, when on the pitch at the King Power, when we are having to fight and compete for the supporters, for the Football Club, that we give everything, all the time.
“If we do that, we have a real chance of achieving something.”

 

Martin added on his philosophy: “It’s to be aggressive, with and without the ball, to dominate as much as we can, and to be exciting, to be attacking, to want to score, to have desire to score, desire to defend. It's very much going to be about spirit, about a team fighting for each other and for the people in the stands.
“We have to build that first, to be really competitive, to work more than anyone else, to work so hard for what we're going to try and achieve. And then after, we can start adding and fine tuning bits.
“But first, we need to be a machine that is together, that fights together, that runs together, that works together, and hopefully people in the stands and everyone will see that and feel that, and then we can start adding the exciting stuff after that.”
In the more immediate term, Martin is savouring the opportunity of getting the players back in at Seagrave for pre-season to outline what is expected and return to his passion for coaching.
“We're going to go straight to work,” the ex-Swansea City Manager stated. “We’ll be really clear with the players about what the expectations are going to be from us as a group of staff, about what it's going to look like, about what we're going to aim for, about what's going to be really important to us as a group, on the pitch and off the pitch and how we behave every day.
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“And making sure we build a culture at the training ground that is really clear, is really demanding, hopefully in the best way, where we care about what we're doing and the people that are doing it and then work, real hard work, so we're ready for the first game to compete and show what we're going to be about.
“I can't wait. I think the thing I’ve missed the most being out of a job is being on the grass with the players. I love coaching, I love working with players and it’s what I have a passion for, being on the training pitch with them. It's the best bit of a job, and I'm excited about that.”
With plenty of experience in the dugout at a relatively young age, Martin feels refreshed following his recent break from the game, having a chance to reflect but also take on board new ideas which will be of benefit during this next chapter as Foxes Manager.
“I'm still only 40, so I still deem myself as a fairly young manager, but I feel quite experienced,” he stated. “I've learned from everywhere I've been, different clubs, different places, different challenges, and this is different in its own way.
“I have to really respect that and respect this Football Club and what it's been about. I've spoken to a lot of people about it, people who have worked here, people that played here and they all say the same thing - people are brilliant, the Club’s fantastic.
“If we can get the energy going in the right place and shift the energy from where it's been, which I'm convinced we will, then we have a chance to achieve something brilliant. That's why we're all here and I hope I can just put my spin on that and our spin on that quickly over the next few weeks.
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“It's really important to approach it with a fresh energy. It's gone, whatever's happened in the last couple of years. This Club has proved, and in recent history, it's capable of amazing things, incredible things.
“Hopefully we'll now be able to add to that in our own way, in our own story, to achieve something really brilliant this season.
“I have big energy and I felt really ready to come back. I've watched football in a lot of different countries, I've been all over Europe watching football and spent a lot of time studying lots of different football. It's been really good for me.
“I think the previous break I had from the game, I genuinely wanted a break from the game because I've been 20 years playing and managing, but this one, when I finished in October, I almost had a bit of frustration, so the energy's been about making sure for my next job I'm ready and try to improve as many things as possible, pick up things from different coaches, different teams.
“I spoke to a lot of people, presented myself on a few coaching things around the country, just because I have a real passion for coaching and meeting people there as well and taking different things from different people. It's been great and I hope to show that.
“I feel I'm in the best place I ever have been to go and deliver something that people feel connected to it, people feel proud of, and a team that wins, and that's why we're here. We need to win. And we need to win in a way that we want to win it.”

As we head into a new period, Martin’s message to City fans is clear: that he’s aiming to produce a team that will make the Blue Army proud again, but also, and crucially, a successful one.
“I hope to bring them a team that they can be really proud of, that they feel connected to in the way that it works,” he concluded. “I think the fact that the Club's already sold 22,500 season tickets, we are going to need everyone, and the fans will be the difference.
“I think this season, with so many games, we are in a position now where a lot of teams will be excited to play against us and see it's a big challenge and we need to make sure we're up for that and we need to live up to that.
“The supporters and the energy, having played against Leicester in League 1 when they won the league many, many moons ago, I feel really old. I’ve played against them in the Championship here as a manager and as a player, played against them in the Premier League here. I felt that energy as an opposition, as an opponent. So now I'm really excited about feeling that in the dugout here.
“We have to make sure the players give everything they possibly can to give the supporters, who are the most important people at every football club, because they've been here long before me and long after me they'll be here, something to be proud of.
“That's my job, to give them a team that wins and one they feel they can really go on a journey with.”

 

More here - https://www.lcfc.com/media-article/russell-martin-leicester-city-lcfc-manager-first-words-quotes-appointment

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Russell mused.

[brookfox]

Absolutely no offence to the guy, but can’t even be bothered to read it. Could be the same interview from 95% of new managers, all very easy to say but time will tell if it translates on the pitch.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Copy paste.

 

 

[Buzzell]

[Pita]

After his massive failure at Rangers the only thing he has to do is show us on the pitch 

[Aus Fox]

[Stavros81]

All monotone! Vardy admitted it in his interview he stays monotone so can say all the right things and not say something unnecessary. Rowett was the same spoke absolutely brilliant in press conferences. Coady another one talks the talk but Dogshit player. They are programmed to be monotone say the same shite everytime to please us the fans. 

[davieG]

Jon the fans will never forget the last couple or more years.

[Stuntman_Mike]

Maybe the break has done him good, maybe he's still a nob.

[Gamble92]

6 minutes ago, davieG said:

Jon the fans will never forget the last couple or more years.

"Add our own story"

 

But I thought all the Premier League win was yours Rudders?

 

They look like 3 teachers telling you what room to go to on parents evening.

[MGLCFC]

This has to be one of the lowest points in the clubs history. However, I'm not sure what people are expecting him to say in an interview.

Yeah I'm scraping the barrel coming here, I know the club is on a downward spiral and I'm not sure I can change things and so on.

Yes, it's spin and his past history of success doesn't inspire me, but come, let's judge him on his words when the action starts.

[ALC Fox]

I'm ready for the redemption arc. Really ready for it. We need something. Two promotions in minimum three seasons please.

 

We need to get out of this division. Do that and I think we're in a position to compete at the top end of the Championship again.

 

The jury is well and truly out. But this club does extraordinary stories and pulling things out of the fire just when you think all is lost.

 

I'll forever be an optimist, despite my current misgivings about this manager.

[GLC]

[STEVIE B]

12 minutes ago, ALC Fox said:

I'm ready for the redemption arc. Really ready for it. We need something. Two promotions in minimum three seasons please.

 

We need to get out of this division. Do that and I think we're in a position to compete at the top end of the Championship again.

 

The jury is well and truly out. But this club does extraordinary stories and pulling things out of the fire just when you think all is lost.

 

I'll forever be an optimist, despite my current misgivings about this manager.

To be honest, we must be promoted this season, then I'd be fairly happy with a season of mid-table mediocrity in The Championship, as in no dramas, out of the spotlight completely for a change.

 

I really can't think of many seasons in the last 20/25, when there hasn't been nail biting, shredded nerves & emotions. 

Edited 42 minutes ago by STEVIE B

[AKCJ]

28 minutes ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Copy paste.

 

 

Rangers;

- Are a big club.

- Are in a league where everyone sees them as the cup final.

- Are a club whose fans are totally disillusioned.

- Are a club that historically plays quick, entertaining football.

- Has a dressing room that doesn't like being told harsh truths.

- Are in need of a serious rebuild that probably won't happen.

 

Rudkin watched Martin go there in almost identical circumstances to those we'll face this season and achieve a 29% win ratio and thought, yep he'll do.

 

It is gross incompetence. 

 

 

[urban.spaceman]

“Put… Russel Martin is refreshingly laid back for a man with such responsibility.“

[Pita]

Actions speak louder than words  we will see very soon. Get rid of the rubbish and don’t bring in Southampton cast offs 

[Alf Bentley]

1 hour ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Copy paste.

 

 

 

I started listening to this video, thinking it related to his LCFC appointment. My mood briefly rose when he referred to "the new owners"......but then I realised.