Pressure mounts on Russell Martin as Rangers face European test after Brugge rout

Russell Martin’s four-month tenure at Rangers has been defined by missteps more than milestones, culminating in a 6-0 defeat at Club Brugge last month and a 9-1 aggregate setback that has supporters questioning the club’s direction. After the Brugge humiliation, Martin said there has long been fragility at the club, a framing some critics said ignored recent history. Rangers have endured a challenging period since their 2012 insolvency, with domestic trophies in short supply and pressure building on the manager to deliver results on the continent as well as at home.

What followed the Brugge result was a pointed reminder of the club’s European ambitions and the expectations that accompany them. The loss did not reflect a universally consistent European track record for Rangers in recent years; under predecessors, the club has occasionally punched above its weight in Europe. The Brugge match, however, marked a stark contrast to the more positive moments that had accompanied earlier campaigns, including runs to the Europa League final in 2022 under Giovanni van Bronckhorst and a series of qualifiers that repeatedly tested the team on foreign soil. The broader context remains that Rangers have long sought to translate domestic strength into sustained European progress, a balance many managers have pursued with varying degrees of success.

The Brugge debacle came at a time when Rangers had begun a domestic cup run but faced an uphill climb in Europe. Martin’s side subsequently beat Hibernian to reach the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup, a result that offered a sliver of relief but did little to erase the doubt surrounding his ability to steady the ship in Europe. In reality, the club’s European history in recent seasons has been a tapestry of highs and lows, with several managers delivering notable results on the continent even as domestic form fluctuated. The current challenge is to recapture that balance and reestablish a credible path in the Europa League, beginning with the upcoming tie against Genk.

Genk, the first of eight opponents Rangers will face in this year’s Europa League, provide a stern test. The Belgian side sit 14th in a 16-team league and have won only twice in eight matches, including a home defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise in their most recent league game. Their position has put extra pressure on Rangers to perform in Glasgow, where a strong showing could help ease the mounting scrutiny of Martin’s methods and leadership. The domestic backdrop remains unsettled for Rangers, with form that has not matched the club’s European pedigree in recent campaigns. Against that backdrop, a positive result in Europe would be a meaningful statement of intent for a team aspiring to translate past glories into current relevance.

Rangers’ history in Europe over the past decade has shaped expectations. Gerrard’s tenure yielded rapid, high-volume qualification campaigns and a domestic title in 2021, underscoring the club’s capacity to compete in Europe’s knockout stages after early rounds. Van Bronckhorst capitalized on that momentum, taking the team all the way to the Europa League final in 2022, a highlight that demonstrated Rangers could compete with established European powers. Even Philippe Clement’s brief spell included moments that resonated with supporters, such as an away win at Real Betis during a group run that showcased the club’s potential when the approach and personnel clicked. The record shows a club with a history of European resilience, even as the modern era has tested its financial and competitive resilience.

Martin’s appointment, made in June as part of a broader reorganization, arrived with expectations shaped by that legacy. The current run of results—domestic challenges alongside a difficult European opener—has intensified scrutiny about whether the club can replicate the sustained European progress seen in previous regimes. Yet the season’s broader arc remains unsettled, and Rangers cannot afford to overlook the opportunity that a strong European campaign offers to restore confidence among players, staff, and supporters.

With Genk looming, Martin faces a crucial test of leadership and tactical direction. The next phase will reveal whether Rangers can translate their European history into a revitalized, modern-era performance that meets the club’s ambitions. In the near term, the focus will be on stabilizing the defense, sharpening the attack, and delivering results that affirm the manager’s plan while honoring the club’s tradition of competing at the continent’s highest levels.