1. Personal life
Russell Martin was born in Brighton, East Sussex, England, on 4 January 1986, to Dean and Kerry Martin. He grew up with two older brothers, Jamie and David, a younger brother, Pepe, and his parents also fostered children. His upbringing was marked by challenges due to his father's struggles with domestic abuse and gambling addiction, which led to the family losing their home in Hollingbury and relocating to Hollingdean. Despite these difficulties, his father was also involved in coaching his sons' football teams.
Martin attended Varndean School and Varndean College, where he achieved A-Levels in history, PE, and drama. Before signing with Wycombe Wanderers, he demonstrated a strong work ethic by cleaning pub toilets in the mornings before school and working at a Spar supermarket in the evenings.
Martin has been a vegan since 2014, adopting the lifestyle initially for health reasons to manage issues with ulcerative colitis. His commitment extends to his business ventures, as he is a part-owner of Erpingham House, which is recognized as the largest vegan restaurant in the UK. Beyond his dietary choices, Martin is actively engaged in social and political issues. In 2018, he publicly stated his affiliation with the Green Party of England and Wales. He is also a proponent of Buddhism, indicating a broader interest in spiritual and philosophical perspectives.
Committed to giving back to his community, Martin established a charitable organization in his hometown of Brighton called the Russell Martin Foundation. Initially conceived as a football academy, the foundation now aims to use "the power of football to help change people's lives" by providing opportunities in football, education, and health to the local community. For his significant charitable contributions, Martin was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Brighton on 31 July 2024.
2. Playing career
Russell Martin's playing career began in youth academies, transitioned through several English clubs, and culminated in significant spells at Norwich City and Milton Keynes Dons, alongside an international career representing Scotland.
### Club career ###
Martin's club career saw him progress through various English leagues, becoming a key player and captain at several teams, culminating in multiple promotions.
2.1. Early career
Russell Martin began his football journey in the youth academy of Brighton & Hove Albion. He left the academy by mutual consent in early 2004, joining Isthmian League Division One South side Lewes. Following his time at Lewes, he underwent trials with several clubs, including Charlton Athletic.
Later in 2004, Martin joined Wycombe Wanderers. He made his professional debut for the club on 7 August 2004, in a 2-1 home victory against Cambridge United. During his tenure until the 2007-08 season, he made 142 appearances, scoring 5 goals. He signed a new two-year contract ahead of the 2006-07 season. Martin contributed to Wycombe's progression, playing in the League Two play-off semi-finals in both the 2005-06 and 2007-08 seasons, and helping the team reach the EFL Cup semi-finals in 2006-07.
On 29 May 2008, Martin transferred to Peterborough United, a club that had just achieved promotion to League One. He signed a three-year contract. At Peterborough, Martin quickly ascended to a leadership role, becoming the club's youngest ever captain after taking over from Craig Morgan. In his first season, he captained Peterborough United to gain promotion to the Championship, making 66 appearances with 1 goal before his departure in 2010.
2.2. Norwich City
In November 2009, Russell Martin joined Norwich City on loan following Mark Cooper's appointment as manager. On 4 January 2010, his transfer was made permanent, and he signed a 2½-year contract with Norwich. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first goal for the club on 14 September 2010, with a diving header in a 3-1 defeat to Doncaster Rovers. On 1 January 2011, he netted the only goal in a crucial 1-0 victory over then-Championship league leaders Queens Park Rangers. His last-minute equalizer against Cardiff City earned him the affectionate nicknames "the Cafu of the Championship" or "the Norfolk Cafu" from fans, in honor of the Brazilian footballer Cafu.
In recognition of his stellar performance during the 2010-11 season, where he played every minute of every game, Martin was the runner-up for the Norwich City F.C. Player of the Year award, which was won by Grant Holt. After an impressive debut season in the Premier League with Norwich, where he effectively filled in at centre-back, Martin signed a new three-year deal in June 2012. He continued his strong form, scoring two goals against Manchester City in a 4-3 home defeat on 29 December 2012. On 9 July 2013, he extended his commitment to the club with another three-year deal, and on 10 August 2013, he was officially named the club captain. Martin openly expressed his aspiration to pursue management after his playing career, stating in a 2013 interview, "I would eventually love to come and manage Norwich."
Martin reached significant milestones during his time at Norwich. On 22 November 2014, he made his 200th appearance for the club against his hometown team, Brighton & Hove Albion, scoring Norwich's second goal in a 3-3 draw. Norwich achieved promotion to the Premier League in the 2014-15 season via the play-offs, just one year after their relegation. However, the club was relegated again after a single season back in the top division. Martin made his 300th appearance for Norwich on 21 April 2017, in a 2-0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion. He signed another contract extension in July 2017 but saw fewer first-team appearances during the 2017-18 season. Overall, Martin made 309 appearances for Norwich City, placing him 22nd in the club's all-time appearance list.
2.3. Loan spells and later career
In January 2018, with limited first-team opportunities at Norwich, Russell Martin moved on loan to Scottish Premiership club Rangers. He made his competitive debut for Rangers on 24 January in a 2-0 victory against Aberdeen, being one of four new players to feature in that game. He scored his only goal for Rangers on 24 February 2018, in a 2-0 win against Hearts. His time at Rangers contributed to the team finishing third in the league and reaching the semi-finals of both the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup. After his loan spell concluded, Martin officially departed Norwich City on 31 August 2018, with his contract terminated by mutual consent.
In October 2018, Martin signed with League One club Walsall in a player-coach capacity. He made 12 appearances for the club before leaving by mutual consent in January 2019 due to family reasons.
On 15 January 2019, Martin joined League Two club Milton Keynes Dons on a short-term deal until the end of the season. He played a crucial role in the team securing promotion on the final day of the 2018-19 season, making 18 appearances for the club. Following the departure of manager Paul Tisdale on 2 November 2019, Martin was appointed as his successor the next day. To fully concentrate on his new managerial role, he announced his retirement as a player, concluding a professional playing career spanning over 15 years.
### International career ###
Despite being born in England, Russell Martin qualified to represent Scotland through his Scottish father. His first call-up to the Scotland squad came on 17 May 2011, for Nations Cup matches against Wales and the Republic of Ireland. He made his international A-match debut as a late substitute against Wales. Scotland finished as runners-up in that Nations Cup tournament, behind the Republic of Ireland.
In June 2013, prior to a game against Croatia, Martin humorously noted that he was not recognized by taxi drivers when he met up with the Scotland squad. He made his first competitive appearance for Scotland in that match against Croatia, which Scotland won 1-0, with his then-Norwich City teammate Robert Snodgrass scoring the decisive goal. Martin became a regular under manager Gordon Strachan, accumulating 29 international appearances in total. His final cap for Scotland came in a 1-0 victory against Slovenia in March 2017.
3. Managerial career
Russell Martin transitioned from a distinguished playing career to become a football manager, known for implementing a distinct possession-based style of play across multiple clubs.
### Milton Keynes Dons ###
On 3 November 2019, immediately following his retirement as a player, Russell Martin was announced as the new permanent first-team manager of League One club Milton Keynes Dons, the same club he had joined as a player earlier that year. His initial season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the club finishing 19th in League One.
Working alongside assistant Luke Williams, Martin successfully implemented a distinctive possession-based style of play, which garnered widespread praise. A notable achievement came on 2 March 2021, when his team scored a goal after a 56-pass move, setting a new British record at the time. By the end of the 2020-21 season, MK Dons ranked among the top European clubs for average possession percentage, with only Manchester City and Barcelona having higher figures. His team also led League One in the number of touches in the opposition box. Despite these impressive tactical statistics, the club achieved mixed results throughout the season, ultimately finishing 13th in the league. Martin also guided the team to the quarter-finals of the EFL Trophy in the 2020-21 season. On 31 July 2021, MK Dons confirmed that Championship club Swansea City had formally requested permission to discuss their vacant managerial position with Martin.
### Swansea City ###
On 1 August 2021, Russell Martin was appointed head coach of Swansea City, signing a three-year contract. His appointment came just six days before the start of the 2021-22 Championship season. He brought his trusted assistants, Luke Williams, Matthew Gill, and Dean Thornton, with him to the club.
Martin's tenure at Swansea began with a 2-1 away loss to Blackburn Rovers. However, he quickly secured his first victory as manager with a dominant 3-0 away win against Reading in the EFL Cup. His first home game at the Swansea.com Stadium resulted in a 0-0 draw with Sheffield United. On 20 August, Martin achieved his first league win as Swansea defeated Bristol City 1-0.
A significant highlight of his time at Swansea was his success in the South Wales derby against rivals Cardiff City. In October 2021, Martin led Swansea to a commanding 3-0 home victory. Later in the season, Swansea secured an even more impressive 4-0 win in the reverse fixture, marking a historic achievement as Swansea became the first side to complete the league double in the 110-year history of the derby. Following the 4-0 win, Martin expressed profound emotion, stating it was "the best moment I've had as a manager." In his first season, Swansea finished 15th in the league. The following season, he improved the team's standing, guiding them to a 10th-place finish. Martin departed Swansea City on 21 June 2023.
### Southampton ###
On 21 June 2023, Russell Martin was appointed manager of Southampton, signing a three-year contract. His first professional game in charge was a 2-1 victory against Sheffield Wednesday, which ended Southampton's nine-match winless streak in their opening-day fixtures. In that match, Southampton showcased Martin's tactical influence by completing 477 successful first-half passes, setting a new divisional record.
From September 2023 to February 2024, Martin orchestrated a remarkable run, leading Southampton to a club-record 25-game unbeaten streak. This impressive form culminated in a successful campaign, as Martin guided Southampton to victory in the Championship play-offs on 26 May 2024, defeating Leeds United 1-0. This triumph secured Southampton's promotion to the Premier League at the first attempt under his management.
Following the promotion, Martin signed a three-year contract extension with Southampton on 2 July 2024. He secured his first Premier League victory on 2 November 2024, in a 1-0 win against Everton. However, his tenure at Southampton came to an end on 15 December 2024, when he was sacked after a decisive 5-0 home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. At the time of his dismissal, Southampton was at the bottom of the Premier League table, having secured only one league win in sixteen matches.
4. Managerial style
Russell Martin's coaching philosophy is rooted in his extensive playing experience and influenced by highly successful managers. He began studying for his coaching badges at the age of 22 and earned his UEFA Pro Licence from the Scottish FA in 2019. His approach to management has been shaped by figures such as Chris Hughton, Daniel Farke, and particularly Pep Guardiola.
Inspired by Guardiola's iconic Barcelona and Manchester City teams, Martin is a staunch advocate for dominating ball possession. Tactically, his teams commonly utilize formations such as 3-4-2-1, 3-5-2, 4-1-2-1-2, or 4-3-3, with a consistent emphasis on passing the ball and pressing the opposition. A defining characteristic of his managerial style is his steadfast commitment to his game plan; he prefers to refine and improve his existing approach rather than abandoning his style of play in response to poor results. Martin articulated his philosophy in 2021, stating: "I played in teams who were dominant with the ball and loved it. I also played in teams who didn't have much of the ball and hated it. My style is probably shaped by that and the teams I've enjoyed watching play football like Barcelona, Manchester City and Spain. I've tried to replicate that at the level I'm at and with the players I've had. If I didn't do that, I probably wouldn't have gone into coaching or management." Following his MK Dons side scoring a record-breaking 56-pass goal, he further explained his belief: "People still react to that and say it's boring, but everyone has a different opinion... the more we have the ball, the more we can control the game and take the fight out of opposition teams. It's a 90-minute game plan to try and dominate the ball."
5. Career statistics
### Club ###
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2004-05 | League Two | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005-06 | League Two | 23 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 29 | 3 | |
| 2006-07 | League Two | 42 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 2 | |
| 2007-08 | League Two | 44 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 49 | 0 | |
| Total | 116 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 142 | 5 | ||
| Peterborough United | 2008-09 | League One | 46 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 1 |
| 2009-10 | Championship | 10 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | - | 14 | 0 | |||
| Total | 56 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 66 | 1 | ||
| Norwich City | 2009-10 | League One | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| 2010-11 | Championship | 46 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 49 | 5 | ||
| 2011-12 | Premier League | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 37 | 2 | ||
| 2012-13 | Premier League | 31 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 34 | 3 | ||
| 2013-14 | Premier League | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 35 | 0 | ||
| 2014-15 | Championship | 45 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 49 | 2 | |
| 2015-16 | Premier League | 30 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 31 | 3 | ||
| 2016-17 | Championship | 37 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | 40 | 2 | ||
| 2017-18 | Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2018-19 | Championship | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 284 | 16 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 308 | 17 | ||
| Rangers (loan) | 2017-18 | Scottish Premiership | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| Walsall | 2018-19 | League One | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2018-19 | League Two | 18 | 1 | - | - | - | 18 | 1 | |||
| 2019-20 | League One | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 1 | |
| Total | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 508 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 579 | 26 | ||
### International ###
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 2011 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 29 | 0 | |
### Managerial ###
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games managed | Games won | Games drawn | Games lost | Goals for | Goals against | Goal difference | Winning percentage | |||
| Milton Keynes Dons | 3 November 2019 | 31 July 2021 | 80 | 30 | 19 | 31 | 107 | 105 | 37.50 | |
| Swansea City | 1 August 2021 | 21 June 2023 | 99 | 36 | 27 | 36 | 139 | 143 | ||
| 36.36 | ||||||||||
| Southampton | 21 June 2023 | 15 December 2024 | 73 | 33 | 14 | 26 | 120 | 113 | 45.21 | |
| Total | 252 | 99 | 60 | 93 | 366 | 361 | 39.29 | |||
6. Honours
### Player ###
Peterborough United
- Football League One runner-up: 2008-09
Norwich City
- Football League One: 2009-10
- Football League Championship runner-up: 2010-11
- Football League Championship play-offs: 2015
Milton Keynes Dons
- EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2018-19
Individual
- PFA Team of the Year: 2014-15 Championship
### Manager ###
Southampton
- EFL Championship play-offs: 2024