Wilcox backed Russell Martin for Man United role despite experience concerns

Manchester United director of football Jason Wilcox advocated for Russell Martin as a potential candidate during the club’s managerial search to replace Erik ten Hag, according to The Athletic. Wilcox, who worked alongside Martin at Southampton, spoke highly of the coach but ultimately conceded he was not ready for the demands of the Old Trafford job given his experience level at the time.

The two men share a history at Southampton, where Wilcox backed Martin through a difficult early spell before the side embarked on a 25-match unbeaten run that earned them promotion. That loyalty appears to have carried over into Wilcox’s thinking at United, with reports suggesting he planned to keep monitoring Martin’s development as a manager.

Martin was discussed during a period of significant uncertainty at United in 2024, when Ten Hag was under serious pressure ahead of the FA Cup final against Manchester City. Club officials chose not to dismiss the Dutchman after that Wembley triumph, but sacked him the following October. Ruben Amorim was appointed as his successor, before Michael Carrick took over on a permanent basis after securing Champions League football.

Carrick now faces his own crisis. United sit above the Premier League relegation zone only on goal difference, and back-to-back defeats — a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth and a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, in which Lisandro Martinez was sent off for two rapid bookings — have intensified pressure on both the manager and the wider hierarchy.

Martin’s own career trajectory since leaving Southampton has been turbulent. A move to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership ended after just 17 games at Ibrox, where he replaced Philippe Clement. He has since taken charge of Leicester City, the 2016 Premier League champions, who are currently adrift in League One — sitting 10th in England’s third tier — and facing their own battle to arrest a prolonged decline.

With Wilcox under scrutiny at Old Trafford and Martin’s stock having dipped considerably, the prospect of a reunion at United appears distant for now. But the reported endorsement underlines the regard in which Wilcox holds his former colleague, and suggests Martin remains on the radar should circumstances change.