Latest news with #Tavernier
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Russell Martin says James Tavernier will remain Rangers captain
The Rangers squad will return for pre-season training on June 23. Martin will work alongside new sporting director Kevin Thelwell and technical director Dan Purdy across the summer transfer window to remould a squad to fit his style of play. Martin was unveiled as Ibrox boss on Thursday (Image: Steve Welsh) Tavernier, who has worn the armband since 2018, remains under contract at Rangers until the summer of 2026 and will enter his testimonial year this summer. The right-back continues to divide opinion amongst supporters. He broke the record for the most goals scored by any British defender in 2024, but has also been on the losing side of the last four league titles. 'First and foremost, [he'll be important in terms of] explaining to me and having a discussion about the last two years, his thoughts on the team,' Martin said. 'His thoughts on what we're going to bring and how the players will feel about that. 'I think to play here for as long as he has, to be captain for as long as he has, takes a lot of energy. It's not easy. I've been at a club where sometimes you're the one who's been there the longest and you end up getting criticised a lot because you've been there the longest. You're an ageing player and all that stuff. Read more: 'I think he's been so important for this team and this club on and off the pitch, and I'm looking forward to chatting in more detail with him and speaking to him about it all. Then how much he gets used on the pitch will be down to Tav and how he trains and how he plays, the same as every player.' Tavernier has been a constant at Rangers since arriving under the management of Mark Warburton. To some, he is a player the club need to move on from, to others, Tavernier has been a victim of his circumstances, who can perform well in better circumstances. Martin continued: 'He's going to be hugely important in the culture. I know what he's like a person behind the scenes and he's fantastic. He really was when I played with him and hopefully it hasn't beaten him up, too much football. 'It doesn't seem like it has. He still seems like he plays with a big smile and a lot of enthusiasm. It does carry a big weight to be captain of a club this size. I think he's done it incredibly well. How much he plays on the pitch, I can't sit here and tell you he's going to play 50 games, 20 games, whatever. It will be down to him in the way he performs and the way he buys into it, which I'm pretty sure he will.' Asked if Martin would be comfortable with Tavernier being the captain of his Rangers side, Martin continued. 'If he's playing. He's been the captain for a very long time. I don't see any reason to change that. And if he's not playing, it will force someone else.'
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Russell Martin says James Tavernier will remain Rangers captain
Martin, who played briefly with James Tavernier during a loan spell at the club in early 2018, was unveiled as the successor to Philippe Clement on Thursday. The Rangers squad will return for pre-season training on June 23. Martin will work alongside new sporting director Kevin Thelwell and technical director Dan Purdy across the summer transfer window to remould a squad to fit his style of play. Martin was unveiled as Ibrox boss on Thursday (Image: Steve Welsh) Tavernier, who has worn the armband since 2018, remains under contract at Rangers until the summer of 2026 and will enter his testimonial year this summer. The right-back continues to divide opinion amongst supporters. He broke the record for the most goals scored by any British defender in 2024, but has also been on the losing side of the last four league titles. 'First and foremost, [he'll be important in terms of] explaining to me and having a discussion about the last two years, his thoughts on the team,' Martin said. 'His thoughts on what we're going to bring and how the players will feel about that. 'I think to play here for as long as he has, to be captain for as long as he has, takes a lot of energy. It's not easy. I've been at a club where sometimes you're the one who's been there the longest and you end up getting criticised a lot because you've been there the longest. You're an ageing player and all that stuff. Read more: 'I think he's been so important for this team and this club on and off the pitch, and I'm looking forward to chatting in more detail with him and speaking to him about it all. Then how much he gets used on the pitch will be down to Tav and how he trains and how he plays, the same as every player.' Tavernier has been a constant at Rangers since arriving under the management of Mark Warburton. To some, he is a player the club need to move on from, to others, Tavernier has been a victim of his circumstances, who can perform well in better circumstances. Martin continued: 'He's going to be hugely important in the culture. I know what he's like a person behind the scenes and he's fantastic. He really was when I played with him and hopefully it hasn't beaten him up, too much football. 'It doesn't seem like it has. He still seems like he plays with a big smile and a lot of enthusiasm. It does carry a big weight to be captain of a club this size. I think he's done it incredibly well. How much he plays on the pitch, I can't sit here and tell you he's going to play 50 games, 20 games, whatever. It will be down to him in the way he performs and the way he buys into it, which I'm pretty sure he will.' Asked if Martin would be comfortable with Tavernier being the captain of his Rangers side, Martin continued. 'If he's playing. He's been the captain for a very long time. I don't see any reason to change that. And if he's not playing, it will force someone else.'
The National
3 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Russell Martin says James Tavernier will remain Rangers captain
Martin, who played briefly with James Tavernier during a loan spell at the club in early 2018, was unveiled as the successor to Philippe Clement on Thursday. The Rangers squad will return for pre-season training on June 23. Martin will work alongside new sporting director Kevin Thelwell and technical director Dan Purdy across the summer transfer window to remould a squad to fit his style of play. Martin was unveiled as Ibrox boss on Thursday (Image: Steve Welsh) Tavernier, who has worn the armband since 2018, remains under contract at Rangers until the summer of 2026 and will enter his testimonial year this summer. The right-back continues to divide opinion amongst supporters. He broke the record for the most goals scored by any British defender in 2024, but has also been on the losing side of the last four league titles. 'First and foremost, [he'll be important in terms of] explaining to me and having a discussion about the last two years, his thoughts on the team,' Martin said. 'His thoughts on what we're going to bring and how the players will feel about that. 'I think to play here for as long as he has, to be captain for as long as he has, takes a lot of energy. It's not easy. I've been at a club where sometimes you're the one who's been there the longest and you end up getting criticised a lot because you've been there the longest. You're an ageing player and all that stuff. Read more: 'I think he's been so important for this team and this club on and off the pitch, and I'm looking forward to chatting in more detail with him and speaking to him about it all. Then how much he gets used on the pitch will be down to Tav and how he trains and how he plays, the same as every player.' Tavernier has been a constant at Rangers since arriving under the management of Mark Warburton. To some, he is a player the club need to move on from, to others, Tavernier has been a victim of his circumstances, who can perform well in better circumstances. Martin continued: 'He's going to be hugely important in the culture. I know what he's like a person behind the scenes and he's fantastic. He really was when I played with him and hopefully it hasn't beaten him up, too much football. 'It doesn't seem like it has. He still seems like he plays with a big smile and a lot of enthusiasm. It does carry a big weight to be captain of a club this size. I think he's done it incredibly well. How much he plays on the pitch, I can't sit here and tell you he's going to play 50 games, 20 games, whatever. It will be down to him in the way he performs and the way he buys into it, which I'm pretty sure he will.' Asked if Martin would be comfortable with Tavernier being the captain of his Rangers side, Martin continued. 'If he's playing. He's been the captain for a very long time. I don't see any reason to change that. And if he's not playing, it will force someone else.'
The National
4 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Russell Martin maps out how Rangers can topple Celtic
The 39-year-old is the new head coach of the Ibrox club having been officially unveiled in Glasgow yesterday. The former Southampton manager has been out of work since December. He has signed a three-year deal with Rangers. The ex-Scotland international fielded questions from the media on Thursday morning during his press conference unveiling. ▫️ What is success next season? ▫️ How can Martin's side catch Celtic? ▫️ Talks with 'hugely important' Tavernier ▫️ 'One or two' will join before CL qualifiers Our 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 interview with Rangers head coach Russell Martin ⤵️ — Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) June 6, 2025 Now, in a further wide-ranging interview with Sky Sports, Martin has explained what can be achieved in his time as Rangers boss, and in what sort of timeframe that will be doable. Asked if his new Rangers side can get the better of Brendan Rodgers' team, he responded: "I want us to keep improving and be the best version of ourselves that we can be. "We have to win, and we have to win a lot. I think history shows you that when Rangers are performing and have momentum and energy, with a team of clarity and belief, it can lead to anything and to big success. "That's what I want, so I'm here, I want to be here to win things and to feel that here, and I hope we can do that. "The club needs new energy, it needs a fresh start. It's been a tough time for the club and Rangers fans over the last however many years. "I think this will bring some fresh energy, it will bring some stability and it will hopefully bring a really exciting team on the pitch. "That's the end product and that's what we all want, a team that wins and wins in a certain way and with a culture and environment that we all feel really aligned with and proud of." Read more: The club are a little over a month away from their first competitive game of the 2025/26 season. This will come in the form of a Champions League qualifier - a huge match for the team early in his tenure. Martin has revealed that there are some key areas he and other key figures at Rangers will need to recruit for before that two-legged tie towards the end of July. "There are a few positions where we'll need to strengthen fairly quickly and fairly early on," he added. "I'm also willing to be surprised and I'm open to being surprised by some of the players we have here. "I think the way we're going to try and work and play is going to give them the best chance to show us what they've got and to give us the best version of themselves and hopefully one or two surprises. "We'll need some help before that game for sure, but until we get in here and assess everyone, how many we'll need before the game or how realistic that is because football and the business and transfer window can be difficult. "I'm pretty sure by then we'll have one or two people [in], to help us add to the group."
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Russell Martin maps out how Rangers can topple Celtic
The former Southampton manager has been out of work since December. He has signed a three-year deal with Rangers. The ex-Scotland international fielded questions from the media on Thursday morning during his press conference unveiling. ▫️ What is success next season? ▫️ How can Martin's side catch Celtic? ▫️ Talks with 'hugely important' Tavernier ▫️ 'One or two' will join before CL qualifiers Our 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 interview with Rangers head coach Russell Martin ⤵️ — Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) June 6, 2025 Now, in a further wide-ranging interview with Sky Sports, Martin has explained what can be achieved in his time as Rangers boss, and in what sort of timeframe that will be doable. Asked if his new Rangers side can get the better of Brendan Rodgers' team, he responded: "I want us to keep improving and be the best version of ourselves that we can be. "We have to win, and we have to win a lot. I think history shows you that when Rangers are performing and have momentum and energy, with a team of clarity and belief, it can lead to anything and to big success. "That's what I want, so I'm here, I want to be here to win things and to feel that here, and I hope we can do that. "The club needs new energy, it needs a fresh start. It's been a tough time for the club and Rangers fans over the last however many years. "I think this will bring some fresh energy, it will bring some stability and it will hopefully bring a really exciting team on the pitch. "That's the end product and that's what we all want, a team that wins and wins in a certain way and with a culture and environment that we all feel really aligned with and proud of." Read more: The club are a little over a month away from their first competitive game of the 2025/26 season. This will come in the form of a Champions League qualifier - a huge match for the team early in his tenure. Martin has revealed that there are some key areas he and other key figures at Rangers will need to recruit for before that two-legged tie towards the end of July. "There are a few positions where we'll need to strengthen fairly quickly and fairly early on," he added. "I'm also willing to be surprised and I'm open to being surprised by some of the players we have here. "I think the way we're going to try and work and play is going to give them the best chance to show us what they've got and to give us the best version of themselves and hopefully one or two surprises. "We'll need some help before that game for sure, but until we get in here and assess everyone, how many we'll need before the game or how realistic that is because football and the business and transfer window can be difficult. "I'm pretty sure by then we'll have one or two people [in], to help us add to the group."
