In the summer of 2023, Southampton appointed Russell Martin in hopes of securing an immediate return to the Premier League.
After a disappointing 2022/23 season, Southampton faced relegation, ending their 10-year run in the Premier League. They struggled under three different managers. Ralph Hasenhuttl left in November after a poor start, and his replacement, Nathan Jones, only managed one league win before being sacked in February. Ruben Selles then stepped in but couldn’t turn things around despite a brief victory at Chelsea.
Russell Martin took charge in the summer, coming from Swansea City. Though he had not achieved promotion at Swansea, he was hired by Southampton amid doubts and accusations of “failing upwards.” Critics questioned his suitability for the job, given his relatively modest success at MK Dons and Swansea.
However, Martin silenced doubters with a crucial victory against Leeds United at St Mary’s, ending a four-game losing streak and starting a 22-match unbeaten run. He went on to secure promotion for Southampton after three wins against Leeds, including a 1-0 victory in the play-off final at Wembley.
Leeds played a key role in Martin’s journey to promotion, and he now boasts a promotion on his managerial resume, a satisfying feat for both him and Southampton.