Southampton supporters may be stunned by the surprising role Russell Martin was considered for.

Russell Martin was once considered a possible candidate for one of football’s biggest managerial positions during his time at Southampton, in a revelation that is likely to surprise plenty of Saints supporters.

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert will be targeting his 29th Championship victory when his side travel to face West Bromwich Albion tonight. The German has established himself as an impressive appointment since taking charge at St Mary’s, with his success becoming increasingly clear as the season has progressed.

When Eckert was initially handed temporary responsibility for the first team, however, there were doubts about whether he had enough experience to handle such an important role. His previous managerial experience had been limited to working at under-21 level on the south coast, leaving some observers questioning the decision.

Southampton FC v Chelsea FC – Premier League | Robin Jones/GettyImages

Those concerns have since been answered by his performances. Eckert is now widely regarded as one of the Championship’s most accomplished tactical coaches, although the Spygate controversy has undoubtedly damaged his reputation to some extent.

Southampton desperately needed the appointment to succeed after difficult spells under Ivan Juric and Will Still. Both previous managerial periods had left the club struggling, making the decision to turn to Eckert particularly important for their promotion ambitions. Fortunately for the Saints, the German has delivered the results and performances required.

Martin, meanwhile, is remembered more positively by Southampton supporters than Juric and Still because of his achievement in guiding the club back into the Premier League at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

However, his subsequent spell in the top flight proved extremely difficult. Results deteriorated, and his position eventually became untenable. What makes his Southampton story even more remarkable is that, during that same period, he was reportedly discussed as a possible appointment for Manchester United.

Martin was discussed as a possible Ten Hag replacement

Before the 2024 FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag was facing growing uncertainty over his future as Manchester United manager.

The Dutchman had endured a disappointing 2023/24 Premier League campaign, with United finishing eighth in the table. Performances and results had increased the pressure on him, and questions were being asked about whether he was the right person to lead the club forward.

Ten Hag did, however, manage to finish the campaign with a major trophy. Manchester United defeated Manchester City at Wembley to win the FA Cup, providing the manager with a memorable final achievement before his eventual departure.

Despite that success, his position remained under scrutiny, and he was dismissed in October 2024.

According to a report from The Athletic, Jason Wilcox, who previously worked as Southampton’s director of football before moving into a similar position at Manchester United, considered Martin as one of the possible alternatives to Ten Hag.

Before the FA Cup final victory over City, several people involved in United’s decision-making process reportedly discussed potential candidates who could take over if the club decided to make a managerial change.

Wilcox was among those involved in assessing possible replacements and is said to have spoken positively about Martin, whom he had appointed at Southampton the previous summer.

The connection between the two men makes the revelation particularly interesting. Wilcox had worked closely with Martin during his time at St Mary’s and apparently held him in sufficient regard to mention him when Manchester United were examining their managerial options.

Martin ultimately failed to make the final shortlist. United eventually turned to Ruben Amorim, who was appointed as Ten Hag’s successor.

Nevertheless, the idea that Martin was even discussed for the Old Trafford position is a remarkable detail, considering how dramatically his managerial reputation has changed since then.

Martin’s managerial reputation has fallen sharply

Two years after being considered as a possible Manchester United candidate, Martin finds himself in a very different situation.

The 40-year-old is currently managing Leicester City in League One, where he is facing another difficult challenge. His recent experiences have done little to strengthen his reputation, particularly after disappointing spells at Rangers and Southampton.

During his time in charge of the Saints, Martin recorded 34 victories across 73 matches. His achievement in securing promotion during the 2023/24 season remains an important part of his managerial record, although the poor results that followed in the Premier League significantly affected his overall win percentage.

Southampton supporters may still appreciate what he achieved in getting the club promoted, but many will now view Eckert as a more tactically accomplished manager.

Martin’s subsequent appointment at Rangers was particularly unsuccessful. He struggled to get consistent performances from a squad expected to challenge for domestic honours, and his time at Ibrox ended after only 17 matches.

Across those games, he managed just five victories, a return that proved insufficient for a club with Rangers’ expectations and ambitions.

His departure came after growing frustration over the team’s performances and results. Rangers supporters had expected a manager capable of restoring their dominance, but Martin failed to deliver the improvement required.

His current experience at Leicester has also presented significant challenges. Although he has managed to collect seven victories from his first 17 matches, his position remains under pressure.

A 2-1 defeat against Burton Albion earlier in the campaign sparked an angry response from supporters inside the King Power Stadium, with home fans expressing their frustration through boos.

The atmosphere surrounding Martin has therefore become increasingly difficult, and his reputation has suffered considerably compared with the period when he was leading Southampton towards promotion.

Eckert’s stock is moving in the opposite direction

While Martin is struggling to establish himself at Leicester, Eckert’s standing continues to improve at Southampton.

The 33-year-old has demonstrated an ability to organise his team, deliver results and maintain the club’s ambitions of returning to the Premier League. His progress represents a significant contrast to the difficulties experienced by his predecessor.

There is also a possibility that Southampton could eventually face interest from clubs higher up the football pyramid if Eckert continues to impress.

His reputation has already attracted attention beyond the Championship. Interestingly, his name was mentioned as a potential Manchester United option during a TalkSPORT discussion in September, when an enthusiastic caller suggested he could replace Michael Carrick in the Old Trafford dug-out.

That suggestion was not confirmation of an official approach, but it underlines how quickly Eckert’s performances have attracted attention.

For Southampton, keeping hold of their manager could become increasingly important if their promotion challenge continues to gather momentum.

The contrast between Martin’s career and Eckert’s current progress is striking. Martin was once mentioned in discussions about replacing one of Europe’s most recognisable managers, but his subsequent spells at Rangers and Leicester have damaged his standing.

Eckert, meanwhile, has taken an opportunity that initially raised eyebrows and turned it into a successful managerial appointment.

Southampton supporters will hope the German can continue delivering victories and guide the club back to the Premier League. If he maintains his current trajectory, his future could attract attention from clubs operating at a much higher level.