Russell Martin: Southampton sack manager with club bottom of Premier League after Tottenham hammering

Southampton has terminated the contract of manager Russell Martin following their heavy 5-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday.

This outcome puts Southampton at the bottom of the Premier League, now nine points away from survival. Simon Rusk, who manages the Under-21 team, will temporarily step in as head coach, beginning with the Carabao Cup quarter-final match against Liverpool on Wednesday, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Southampton fans could be heard booing Martin both during and after Sunday's game. In reply, Martin stated in the press conference after the match: "The fans have been fantastic for us since we arrived here from the very beginning."

"I get where the frustration comes from. I'm also aware of what football is like today and what it represents in our current society."

For a better video playback experience, kindly use the Chrome browser.

Not long after, he remarked: "On a personal level, it doesn't bother me too much. However, when I think about it in terms of my role as a manager, it stings quite a bit since I put in so much effort every day."

"Naturally, it's painful, especially since we put in so much effort. However, it's important to recognize that this is just a normal aspect of football, and there's not much we can do about it."

When asked if the fans would get what they hope for, he replied, "I have no idea, my friend. Seriously, I can't help with that. You're talking to the wrong person."

"It's not about them personally; we’re strangers to each other. I get that it's a critique of my work. I believe you can't really judge a person you haven't met. So, it’s more about how I'm performing my role."

The club revealed Martin's exit less than 90 minutes after the final whistle blew.

Martin, who took charge in June 2023, successfully guided Southampton to rise through the Championship play-offs. However, in the Premier League, he has managed only one win alongside 13 losses in 16 matches.

Southampton's goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale served as a commentator for TNT during the game. After the match ended, just before the news of the sacking broke, he expressed, "I really sympathize with Martin."

I believe the guys are still making an effort for him. I'm pretty sure there's no doubt about anything concerning Russell Martin.

"Our supporters certainly deserve more, and they continue to stand by us. We need to put this behind us quickly as we prepare for Wednesday."

Datawrapper This information is supplied by Datawrapper, which might be utilizing cookies and similar technologies. In order to display this content, we require your approval to use cookies. You can adjust your preferences using the buttons provided to either enable Datawrapper's cookies or accept them just for this instance. You have the option to modify your settings at any time through the Privacy Options. Unfortunately, we cannot confirm if you've agreed to Datawrapper's use of cookies. To access this content, you can click the button below to permit Datawrapper cookies for this session alone.

Full Statement From Southampton

We want to share that we have made the tough choice to let go of our men's first team manager, Russell Martin.

As the season kicked off, we were all aware of the hurdles we would encounter this year as we adapted to life in the Premier League, competing in one of the toughest and most competitive leagues globally.

Nonetheless, the truth of our circumstances is evident. The board has backed Russell and his team while being honest and straightforward about what we expect. We all share a mutual understanding of the pressing need for results to drive improvement.

We want to express our gratitude to Russell and his team for their commitment and effort over the past 18 months, both on and off the field. Everyone associated with Southampton FC will cherish the wonderful memories from last season, particularly the victory in the play-off final in May.

The present U21s coach, Simon Rusk, will lead the team temporarily while we search for a permanent replacement.

Behind the scenes, we are excited to see the ongoing growth of talent emerging from our Academy. We take pride in the impact our young athletes are having, and we believe this will continue to be a key source of strength and pride for everyone connected to the club.

"We truly appreciate the ongoing support and encouragement from our fans. We can see the noticeable difference between the Championship and the Premier League, but your patience and enthusiasm, even in times when the outcomes haven't met our expectations, inspire us to stay dedicated to the club for the long haul."

Saints' Disappointing Season In Numbers

Martin's Season: More Struggles Than Bright Spots

Dan Long from Sky Sports:

Russell Martin gained significant trust after successfully leading the team to promotion from the Championship on his first attempt last season. So, when their return to the Premier League got off to a rocky start, the Southampton management decided to support him rather than make a change.

He remained true to his beliefs and kept playing the possession-focused style that has made him famous, even when things were tough and critics were loud, resolutely working to make it succeed.

While there have been brief glimpses of hope, it’s clear that the struggles have heavily outnumbered them.

At the beginning of September, they started strong against Manchester United, but after a missed penalty, the game shifted, resulting in a significant 3-0 defeat. A month later, they were ahead 2-0 against Leicester with more than an hour left to play, looking like they were on track for their first victory, yet they astonishingly lost 3-2. By the end of November, they faced Liverpool fiercely, just after a narrow 1-0 loss to Man City, but unfortunate errors proved detrimental in that match.

We recommend using the Chrome browser for a better video playback experience.

When Tottenham netted the first goal on Sunday evening, a few boos could be heard from the crowd. However, the atmosphere changed drastically when they fell behind 4-0 just 30 minutes into the match, prompting many fans to leave the stadium. Along with this exodus came increasing demands for Martin’s resignation, which became more fervent as the game went on. After the final whistle, while he had already exited through the tunnel, cameras captured a banner that read, "R.M. Get Out Of Our Club."

During the press conference after the match, the 38-year-old addressed the chants by saying that, as a manager, it really affects him, but he emphasized that he doesn’t take it to heart. "It's not about me personally; I don’t know them, and they don’t know me. It’s just a critique of my work, and I get that," he explained.

When asked if the fans' desires would be fulfilled, he responded, "I have no idea, my friend. Really, I don’t know. You're talking to the wrong person here." Unfortunately for him, the right individual made the fans' dreams come true just an hour later.

Wednesday, December 18: Southampton will face Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup. The match is set to start at 8 PM and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Saturday, December 22: Fulham will be taking on Southampton in a Premier League match. The game is scheduled to start at 2 PM and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Thursday, December 26: Southampton will face off against West Ham in a Premier League match, starting at 3 PM.

Sunday, December 29: Crystal Palace will face Southampton in a Premier League match, starting at 3 PM.

Saturday, January 4: Southampton will face Brentford in a Premier League match, starting at 3 PM.

Sunday, January 12: Southampton will face Swansea in the FA Cup third round, starting at 4:30 PM.