Former Rangers boss Alex McLeish believes Russell Martin faces one of the toughest tests of his career as pressure builds around his tenure at Ibrox.
Martin is preparing his side for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Belgian outfit Genk, a match that could prove pivotal for his future. McLeish, now 66, is in a rare position to comment—having previously managed both Rangers and Genk during his long coaching career.
The spotlight is firmly on Martin after a disappointing start to life in Glasgow, but the Rangers boss is not the only man under scrutiny. Genk’s coach, Thorsten Fink, is also in need of a result, with his team languishing in 14th place in Belgium’s top flight.
McLeish warns of the challenge at Rangers
McLeish spent just over four years at the helm of Rangers after taking charge in December 2001, guiding the club to seven major trophies, including two league titles. With that experience, he understands the weight of expectation that comes with the job.
Speaking to Belgian outlet Het Belang van Limburg (via Sport Witness), he explained:
“It’s one of the hardest clubs to manage. The demand is constant—win the league every year, and if not, at least finish above Celtic. The supporters also expect entertainment. I’m not sure the current squad is strong enough to deliver that, especially in the style Russell wants to play. He insists on building from the back like Guardiola, but Pep has unlimited resources to recruit the right players. Rangers don’t.”
Questions over Martin’s style
Rangers’ Europa League campaign comes on the back of a humiliating Champions League exit, where they were thrashed 9-1 on aggregate by Club Brugge. The 6-0 defeat in Belgium left supporters stunned—and McLeish equally so.
“I couldn’t believe the scoreline,” he admitted. “I wasn’t watching but a friend updated me: 1-0, 2-0, 3-0… I thought he was joking. If the gap between top Scottish and Belgian teams is really that wide, Rangers are in trouble.”
Now, facing another Belgian side in Genk, the former Rangers boss isn’t convinced Martin’s approach will hold up.
“I fear the way they’re trying to play just isn’t realistic,” McLeish said. “When I worked under Sir Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen, he always told us: take risks only in the final third. The key is speed and quality in attack—but to do that, you need players capable of executing it.”