Russell Martin told the truth about Brendan Rodgers at Celtic ahead of becoming Rangers manager

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There has been a lot of noise coming from Rangers during these past few weeks, despite Celtic sitting at the top of the tree in Scotland.

The recently concluded campaign saw the usual. Celtic becoming champions again, and Brendan Rodgers adding to his trophy tally in Glasgow.

That’s 11 trophies over two spells for the Celtic manager, and now he is set to come up against Russell Martin ahead of his appointment at Rangers.

It has been the norm for Rodgers to see off Rangers managers during his time at Celtic Park, as he added two more to his list this season.

Philippe Clement was sacked in February, and then Barry Ferguson entered the building on an interim basis, and despite wanting the job, he was out of the door when the season was out and Celtic were lifting their 55th Premiership crown.

That’s why ex-Southampton boss Martin is now closing in on the Rangers job.

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Russell Martin vs Brendan Rodgers

Rodgers has won the title in each of his four seasons in charge, including more Trebles than Rangers have Premiership crowns.

Simon Jordan wanted to highlight the gulf between the man in Celtic’s dugout, and who Rangers are about to bring in, as he told talkSPORT.

The former Crystal Palace owner highlighted the truth, including how Rodgers has ‘dominated’ in Scotland and managed teams like Liverpool during his career, whilst Martin ‘couldn’t cut it in the Premier League’.

“It feels like a Rangers appointment,” said Jordan. “There have been appointments made by Rangers, over the last couple of years.

“Philippe Clement, I liked at the beginning. I liked it from the outset – but Mick Beale, and appointments like that, didn’t sit with me as if it was the progressive, forward-thinking and ambitious football club. 

“Russell Martin has proven he can’t manage in the Premier League. I don’t care what challenges he had. His job was to make Southampton competitive, and he didn’t.

“I look in one dugout and go, ‘a fella that couldn’t cut it in the Premier League that managed Southampton at one time. Got them a moment of success. Didn’t pivot. Didn’t change, and didn’t have the propensity to think outside the box’. 

“Against Brendan Rodgers, who has managed Liverpool. Won the FA Cup with Leicester. That has dominated Scottish football. That has more dough than they have. 

“I think there are still the same questions and circles to be squared for Rangers that were there before the announcement.”

Martin and Rodgers’ Premier League records compared

Rodgers managed three clubs during his time in the Premier League – helping Swansea City earn promotion, narrowly missing out on the Premier League title as Liverpool boss, and winning the FA Cup with Leicester City.

Of course, the Irishman is far more experienced than Martin, but the latter didn’t last long in England’s top flight, and he was sacked by Southampton in December.

And this is how their managerial careers in the Premier League compare.