Some Rangers Fans Are Raging Over What Russell Martin Did | OneFootball

There is no question that what a Rangers manager wears doesn’t necessarily have a significant impact on results. However, historically, if we go back a decade, two decades, if one punctuating factor has sartorially been of relevance, it is the appearance of the man in the dugout.

Rangers’ managers always wore suits. It’s just a thing. Rangers’ managers always looked like they suited the role. Barry Ferguson, only an interim coach, wore the suit religiously as a proper Rangers man. Walter Smith, of course, always did. Giovanni van Bronckhorst was suited and booted. Meanwhile, Philippe Clement usually wore a large bomber jacket over his suit. Michael Beale? Yes, yet another suit, generally speaking.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JULY 25: Rangers Manager Steven Gerrard is seen during the pre season friendly match between Rangers and Coventry City at Ibrox Stadium on July 25, 2020 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

So it was with a great deal of consternation that many fans observed new manager Russell Martin in what appeared to be civvies. Indeed, he attracted a lot of criticism over the fact he was not wearing a suit.

Rangers manager Russell Martin speaks to RangersTV amid growing speculation linking Jamie Vardy with a move to Ibrox

However, we can exclusively reveal that he is by no means the only Rangers manager to do so when it comes to friendlies. Yes, that’s right. Friendly matches are a slightly different kettle of fish, especially pre-season.

Steven Gerrard was never seen in anything other than a suit in the dugout. But during friendlies, during pre-season, yes, even he wore trackies. Even he put on the casual sports stuff. The same for Beale and even Giovanni in pre-season. That was always the case.

The fact is that when it comes to friendly matches during pre-season, even the greatest managers don’t necessarily have to come out looking suited and booted to the nines. And we are going to cut Martin slack as well, even though it’s widely known that we can’t stand him and he is the least appropriate manager Rangers have ever had.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JULY 30: Rangers manager Mark Warburton looks on during a pre-season friendly between Rangers FC and Burnley FC at Ibrox Stadium on July 30, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, what he wore in a friendly didn’t even occur to us until other fans started noticing it. We do believe it’s the same fallacy that had some fans defending Ryan Kent when he wore what made him look like an East 17 reject during his final appearance for Rangers. Later on, this was then heavily criticised as a reason and a stick to beat him with – that he couldn’t even wear the club gear rather than wearing some private civvies that he looked like he bought from Next.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MAY 24: Ryan Kent of Rangers is seen at full time during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Heart of Midlothian at Ibrox Stadium on May 24, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, regardless of purpose or reason or origin, what the Rangers manager wears in a friendly isn’t that important. We are not going to attack him based on that. We will attack him based on the fact he picked Leon King and Robin Propper, but that’s another story.

That said, as we say, how he looks in a dugout in a friendly is probably the least important thing to deal with at this precise moment. When it comes to the serious action, yes, if he is not suited and booted then, then that is extremely inappropriate. Even Mark Warburton – he had a suit on at all times. So did Pedro. In fact, every Rangers manager in competitive action has generally always worn a suit.

GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM – JULY 22: Paul Le Guen the new Rangers manager talks with Gareth Southgate of Middlesbrough before the friendly match between Rangers and Middlesbrough at Ibrox Stadium July 22, 2006 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

It’s just the way it is, and we fully expect Martin to resolve that by the time the serious stuff kicks in in the Champions League qualifiers and/or the league when it begins. But for now, that’s not one that we’re going to hold against him. And we would advise other fans perhaps to find something slightly more important to criticise him with – such as selecting Robin Propper.