Latest news with #LucyPinder
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Self-proclaimed ‘weirdo' Russell Martin in focus including Rangers boss' famous girlfriend & unique outlook on life
NEW Rangers manager Russell Martin has admitted he's a 'weirdo' in the footie world. As a vegan Buddhist and fully paid up member of the Green Party, it's fair to say that the former Scotland international isn't your typical grunting gaffer. 8 8 The 39-year-old also dates former lads mag pin-up Lucy Pinder, 41, swims in the sea and uses a cryotherapy chamber near his home. But despite being labelled the sport's most 'woke' boss, the retired defender actually endured a brutal upbringing. The second youngest of four brothers, Martin grew up in the Hollingbury area of Brighton and watched as his late Scots dad Dean was violent towards mum Kerry and had stints in prison. His family home was lost to his gambling debts — and he moved them next door to a bookies. In a recent podcast interview with footy legend Gary Lineker, Martin said: 'There was too much violence and it became a bit normal. From my dad to my mum. I witnessed a lot of it. A lot of my childhood was spent trying to placate the adults in my life. 'The problem with my dad was he had the capability to be amazing and really likeable but the gap between him at his best and worst was too big. 'And he was a big gambler so the day depended on how he did at the bookies and he worked nights on the taxis so you couldn't make a sound in the morning so it was eggshells a lot of the time and I spent a lot of time kicking the ball against the bookies' wall. 'My dad was great in some ways but I'd never do with my kids what he did with me.' Martin was forced to leave his troubled dad behind and look after his mum when they moved out to escape the violence at home. Despite the early trauma, he excelled at school where he was made head boy. And even after a string of top clubs rejected the budding footballer, he joined non-league side Lewes and cleaned windows and pub toilets in the mornings with his uncle and did shifts at a Spar supermarket across the road in the evenings to make some spare cash. He got his break under Arsenal legend Tony Adams, 58, at Wycombe before moving on to Peterborough and Norwich — whose manager at the time, Celtic hero Paul Lambert, 55, has been a huge influence on his career. During this time the Scots stopper married bodybuilder Jasmine Martin and the pair had three children before splitting in 2023. Martin, who also enjoyed brief stints with Walsall, MK Dons and even Rangers in 2018, gave up meat and turned vegan for health reasons after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He was part-owner of a vegan restaurant and later practiced meditation and breath work as he embraced Buddhism after finding religion through a book called 'The Buddha, Geoff and Me' by Edward Canfor-Dumas. Meanwhile, he revealed he'd joined the Green Party in 2018 after growing disillusioned with politics. But it probably wasn't a surprise to his then Norwich teammates - as Martin often implored them to turn the taps off and think about climate change. He also drives electric cars, is obsessive about recycling and started his own foundation which has grown from a football academy to a charity that helps kids struggling in mainstream school. The philanthropist once said: 'I'm probably deemed a bit of a weirdo in terms of football. But, to be honest, I'm past the point of worrying what others think. 'It's not like: 'Is it going to harm my employment opportunities because of where I vote and what I stand for?' If it did, I wouldn't want to work for those people anyway.' Martin was preparing for his coaching career during his playing days — studying for his coaching badges at age 22, and going for his Uefa Pro Licence at the Scottish FA in 2019. He enjoyed successful spells in charge of MK Dons and Swansea City before his honeymoon period at Southampton — they were promoted to the English Premier League — came crashing down when they were relegated and he was sacked. The heartbreaking end to his top flight stint wasn't a surprise after a 5-0 loss - but it could have been handled better. Martin said: 'I went in thinking that time was done. I needed to go to the toilet and compose myself before doing the team talk. So I went in and said to the lads at half-time, 0-5 down: 'I'm getting sacked tonight.' 'It was like an out of body experience watching the second half, I felt so detached from it because I knew what was coming. 'After the game, I spoke to the guys again and said: 'Thanks for everything, I'm not sure what's gonna happen now'. 8 'I went into the press conference and asked the head of media 'what's happening?' He says, 'We've done the statement' so it was a really quick press conference. He told me to go upstairs. I wanted to wait until the morning but we did it [the sacking] with the owners straight after the game.' But he hasn't allowed his dismissal last year to bring him down as he's found love with Southampton-daft glamour model Lucy. They were seen out together when the football coach was given an honorary degree by Brighton University and later turned heads at a Sky Sports social function. Pin-up Lucy, shot to fame as a glamour model in the early 2000s after she was spotted on Bournemouth beach by a photographer. She went on to become a regular in lads' mags Nuts, FHM and Loaded and has been in several movies — debuting in 2012 in Strippers vs Werewolves — and appeared on Celebrity Big Brother. The model knows a thing or two about celebrity romances, having reportedly dated Captain America star Chris Evans, 43, in the past. But seeing her fella succeed at Ibrox could mean she's found her second superhero. 8 8 8 8
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
RANGERS CONFIDENTIAL: Russell Martin's girlfriend will bring a bit of glitz and glamour to Ibrox... PLUS fans are warned 'moneyball' approach won't bring instant success
Rangers fans may be underwhelmed by the appointment of Russell Martin but he may yet bring a touch of glitz and glamour to the club… if his girlfriend decides to take in the Ibrox atmosphere. Martin is in a relationship with former glamour model Lucy Pinder.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rangers fans shocked to discover who Russell Martin's VERY recognisable girlfriend is - as new boss signs three-year deal at Ibrox
Rangers fans have expressed shock after finding out who Russell Martin's former topless model girlfriend Lucy Pinder is. The former Scotland international defender signed a three-year contract at Ibrox just a week after a US-based consortium completed a takeover of the Glaswegian club. The 39-year-old had a short stint at Rangers as a player in 2018 and moves to Scotland for his first job after being sacked by Southampton in December with the club languishing in the Premier League 's bottom spot. Martin led the Saints to Championship promotion the previous season and enjoyed succesful spells at Swansea and MK Dons. The Rangers ownership labelled him the 'standout choice' to take charge after a long recruitment process to replace Philippe Clement - with former captain Barry Ferguson leading the team since February. Amid the initial fanfare over his appointment, some Rangers supporters took to social media to share their surprise after discovering who his partner is. 'How the f*** am I just now discovering Lucy Pinder,' one wrote on X. 'I still live in Scotland and I don't have a clue who she is,' another added. But others were fully aware of the former glamour model. 'Where have you been,' one fan replied to the tweet. 'Your having a laugh aren't you mate,' another replied. Pinder, 41, was at the height of her fame in the mid-2000s during the era of lads' mags such as FHM, Nuts and Loaded. She appeared topless in Nuts Magazine was ranked on FHM's '100 Sexiest Women in the World'. She also featured on Soccer AM, albeit fully clothed, and later entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2009. One Rangers fan took to social media to express his shock at finding out who Lucy Pinder was Pinder was discovered as a model on Bournemouth beach in 2003, at the age of 19, when she was working as a secretary. She is a life-long Southampton supporter, but will be cheering on her husband from Ibrox rather than St Mary's next season. Martin and Pinder went public with their relationship in August last year as she shared a picture of them together in Brighton, where Martin was receiving an honorary degree. Martin's relationship with Pinder follows the breakdown of his marriage to Jasmine, with whom he shares three children and who he previously hailed as a 'supermum'.
