What system is Russell Martin likely to implement at Rangers? Formation, philosophy and tactics examined.
This is how Russell Martin will likely set up his Rangers team following his appointment as manager.
Rangers have appointed Russell Martin, a former Scotland international, as their new manager.
The ex-Southampton head coach has signed a three-year contract in Govan. He has been out of work since his departure from St Mary’s in December, but has now been named as the permanent successor to Philippe Clement, who was sacked by the club 101 days ago after a 2-0 home defeat to St Mirren.
Despite competition from ex-Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti, the highly regarded 39-year-old coach stated that it was “a privilege to be named head coach of Rangers Football Club at the beginning of this exciting new chapter,” adding, “I know what this club demands. My time here gave me a taste of how unique this club is, including the expectation, passion, and history.”
While some Rangers fans have been sceptical about the appointment, many are eager to see how their former loanee performs in the Ibrox dugout, with Martin regarded as one of the UK’s best young coaches.
Following his appointment as Rangers manager, Martin is expected to set up his team, as well as his preferred formation and style of play…
What formation will Russell Martin play for Rangers?
Martin has tactical flexibility and can change formations based on his squad and the opposition he is facing. However, he prefers a system that supports his possession-based philosophy, and has used a 4-3-3 attacking formation for the majority of his managerial career. This appears to be the system he will most likely use at Rangers, depending on who they sign this summer.
He has been known to play 3-4-2-1, 3-5-2, and 4-1-2-1, all of which allow him to deploy inverted full-backs and attacking midfielders in half-spaces. His formation will be based on fluid buildup, possession, and high pressing.
What type of system is Russell Martin likely to implement at Rangers?
“Nine times out of ten in Scotland, Rangers will play against sitting teams, and the goal is to break them down. That, I believe, is central to Russell’s philosophy. He wants his team to have a lot of possession, push the opposition deep, and then hurt them,” said ex-Hearts head coach Steven Naismith recently. As is well documented, Martin wants his teams to create opportunities by dominating ball possession.
His teams at MK Dons, Swansea City, and Southampton frequently topped the charts for ball possession and retention, and some football statisticians describe his style as ‘ultra possession’. During his promotion-winning season with Southampton in 2023/24, his team averaged 65.7% possession, while his MK Dons set a British record by scoring a goal from a 56-pass move in 2020/21. In the same season, only Manchester City and Barcelona had a higher average possession percentage in Europe than Martin’s MK Dons.
Adding Balance and Pressing Style
While it is often viewed as ‘death by possession’, with multiple backwards and sideward passes, his intention is always to find the spare man and is designed to dominate and exploit space, while his teams are also encouraged to press aggressively in order to regain possession quickly when the ball is lost.
However, he may adapt this slightly, admitting his spell with Southampton in the English Premier League last season made him consider if they should have “tried and dominate the ball but be aware there are times when we have to suffer”, saying they “needed to make a real focus on being really difficult to play against, as well as all the stuff with the ball”, before adding: “if you could bring the beauty with a ball, but also bring the darkness with that stuff, you need
Use of a single pivot
He also prefers to use a single pivot midfielder to help him execute his style. Martin relied heavily on Flynn Downes at Southampton and Matt Grimes at Swansea as the focal point of his teams. He prefers his pivot to dominate the game in order to shift control to his team’s advantage.
Width, especially ball-playing defenders.
As previously stated, Martin wants his teams to dictate the pace of the game, so ball-playing defenders (such as Rangers-linked Harry Darling) are critical to his system. His attacking midfielders and wingers are frequently moved forward.
Martin’s philosophy, in simple terms, is perhaps best summed up by the man himself when he said: “The more we have the ball, the more we can control the game and take the fight out of opposing teams,” and he has a genuine commitment to it, having previously stated: “I cannot stand on the sidelines watching something I don’t feel connected with or love.”
What has Russell Martin said about his style of play?
‘Express ourselves’
“We want to dominate possession, play with courage, and control the pace of the game. It is about expressing ourselves with the ball.”
Aggressive high press
“We press high to get the ball back quickly and put the opposition under pressure. “It’s about being proactive and relentless.”
Fluid formations in Southampton
“We have a flexible system. Fullbacks can invert, while midfielders can advance into attacking positions. It’s about generating overloads and intelligently utilising spaces.”
Taking Risks and Identity
“I’d rather lose playing our way than risk compromising our identity. Mistakes will occur, but they are part of learning to be brave.”
Player Relationships
“The players must trust the process. It’s challenging, but when they see it work, it’s extremely rewarding.”
Which Rangers players will fit in Russell Martin’s system?
It is clear that he will rely heavily on his Rangers players to play a possession-based, high-pressing style as he seeks to restore Rangers’ dominance in the Scottish Premiership. This means Nicolas Raskin could play an important role in his team, either as a pivot or a box-to-box midfielder.
The Belgian international had an 86% passing rate in the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season, making him a strong candidate to start in Martin’s midfield, with Raskin likely to be tasked with dominating the game through his passing and aggressive pressing.
Cyriel Dessers could also play a significant role in his system, as the Nigerian is particularly skilled at pressing. He’ll lead the Rangers’ press and try to close the gap against a low-block, while also serving as the team’s focal point in the middle of the front three.
John Souttar, a ball-playing centre-back, could also fit into Martin’s system. He is also versatile, capable of playing in both a back four and a back three. Souttar would be given the freedom to initiate attacks from the back, using progressive passes in a high defensive line.
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