Jermain Defoe's message for 'lucky' Russell Martin with Rangers warning issued

Daily Record

a day ago

EXCLUSIVE: Russell Martin will be the man to carry Rangers forward for the foreseeable future, but the club's former striker and 55th title-winner, Jermain Defoe, has issued a warning
Jermain Defoe admits that any coach who manages Rangers is "lucky," but warns the newly-appointed Russell Martin that the job comes with unfathomable pressure.
After Barry Ferguson 's temporary spell in charge following Philippe Clement being shown the exit door in February, former Southampton, Swansea and MK Dons boss Martin will now lead Gers into the future.
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The 39-year-old is familiar with Ibrox's surroundings, having endured a lacklustre loan spell there a decade ago, but returns under vastly different circumstances, expected to fight for a league title on the back of a bitterly disappointing season.
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Defoe, whose two-year stint in Glasgow was marked by winning Rangers' 55th and most recent Scottish Premiership crown, has spoken on the managerial position at Ibrox. Speaking in March, he said that anyone who gets the job would be 'lucky' - though warns that coming second behind Celtic is the same as coming last.
"It is a huge football club, and whoever gets that job, you know, they're a lucky manager," said Defoe, speaking courtesy of bet365's Sub On, Play On product, before Martin's arrival.
"I was in a team where we won… it was 55 league titles. It was the special one, really. The one that the fans were craving - stop Celtic from doing 10 in a row, that sort of stuff. But to have that experience. It was amazing. I still keep in contact with a lot of the people there at the club.
"Of course, when we won the league, with Steven [Gerrard] the squad that we had. And obviously, I left and Calvin Bassey left. And everyone sort of left and Gio [Giovanni van Bronckhorst] came in - so close to winning the European trophy.
"But then you just thought that the club would sort of kick on from then and sort of just dominate and go on and win the league every year. And it's just not happened. It's been frustrating to sit back and see.
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"And even more recently, the gap between us and Celtic at the minute. The manager [Clement] has lost his job, which is part and parcel now. Especially at a club like that, where it's just all about winning. That's the sort of mentality up there. The sort of like demand, the pressure that you get from the board and the fans. You have to win. You know, if you come second, you might as well come last."
Celtic have won the last four Scottish league titles, with Defoe's Gers team the ones who prevented the previous streak being extended to ten-in-a-row. The former England striker therefore looks back on his time at Ibrox fondly.
"I love that club," continued Defoe. "I mean, I can sit here for hours and talk about that club, with what I experienced there. Obviously, when I got linked with Rangers, of course I knew that it was a big club.
"From a young kid watching Ali McCoist, who I've come across in media now, one of the nicest guys, humble, iconic figure at the football club, Graeme Souness, again, when he was on Sky. So I always knew it was a big club.
"But when you go, you have to go and actually experience it. And even when you walk into Ibrox, you can feel the history. It's weird. You have to experience it.
"And you walk down the tunnel, you're reminded of the players that have been there and won trophies. And you just want to be amongst those players."