Russell Martin (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Russell Kenneth Alexander Martin (born 4 January 1986 in Brighton
) is an English
-born Scottish
footballer, currently playing for Norwich City
. He is a right-back
. However he is capable of playing as a central defender.
, Brighton
. He left Brighton & Hove Albion
's youth team by mutual consent in early 2004, finishing the season at Isthmian League Division One South side Lewes
.
, Martin joined Wycombe
, initially on a non-contract basis. He made his début in a 2–1 home victory over Cambridge United
on 7 August 2004. He went onto to make 10 more appearances during the 2004–05
season.
During the 2005–06
season he made appearances at left-back, right-back, centre-half and in midfield, as well as winning the goal of the season award.
In the summer of 2006 he signed a new two-year contract with the club, and in 2006–07
season he was a regular starter at right-back. In the 2007-08
he played every game in Wycombe's League Two
campaign as they reached the play-offs. He played in both legs of the semi-final against Stockport County
which Wycombe lost 2–1 on aggregate.
, who had just been promoted to League One
. He signed a three year contract. On 28 September, Martin was announced as the new captain of Peterborough United, taking over from Craig Morgan
.
He played every match in his first season with the club as they gained promotion to the Football League Championship
.
in November 2009, Martin joined Norwich City
on loan. On 4 January 2010 his transfer was made permanent and he joined Norwich on a two-and-a-half year contract. Martin scored his first goal for Norwich in the 3–1 defeat to Doncaster Rovers
, with a diving header on 14 September 2010. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Championship league leaders Queens Park Rangers
on 1 January 2011, and a last-minute equaliser against Cardiff City
, leading fans to dub him "the Cafu of the Championship" or "the Norfolk Cafu", in honour of Cafu
. Martin scored his 5th Norwich goal in the 5-1 victory over Ipswich Town on 21 April 2011. On 7 May 2011, he was the runner up for the Norwich City F.C. Player of the Year award to winner Grant Holt
, in a season where he played every minute of each game.
squad for the Nations Cup games against Wales and Ireland, making his debut as a late substitute.
Norwich City:
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer, currently playing for Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. He is a right-back
Football (soccer) positions
In the sport of association football, each of the eleven players on a team is assigned to a particular position on the field of play. A team is made up of one goalkeeper and ten outfield players who fill various defensive, midfield and attacking positions depending on the formation deployed. These...
. However he is capable of playing as a central defender.
Early career
Martin was educated at Varndean Secondary SchoolVarndean Secondary School
-Location and status:Varndean School is a secondary school serving the needs of a large area of Brighton, England. It moved to its current site overlooking the city and the sea in 1926. Varndean has a national reputation for innovation and achievement. It is a vibrant learning community with a...
, Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. He left Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
's youth team by mutual consent in early 2004, finishing the season at Isthmian League Division One South side Lewes
Lewes F.C.
Lewes Football Club is an English football team based in Lewes, East Sussex. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Dripping Pan.-History:...
.
Wycombe Wanderers
Russell attended the Charlton Athletic Development Centre in East Grinstead, run by Academy Coach Aaron Jacob, for two seasons. Following a trial at CharltonCharlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, Martin joined Wycombe
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
, initially on a non-contract basis. He made his début in a 2–1 home victory over Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
on 7 August 2004. He went onto to make 10 more appearances during the 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season.
During the 2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
season he made appearances at left-back, right-back, centre-half and in midfield, as well as winning the goal of the season award.
In the summer of 2006 he signed a new two-year contract with the club, and in 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season he was a regular starter at right-back. In the 2007-08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
he played every game in Wycombe's League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
campaign as they reached the play-offs. He played in both legs of the semi-final against Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
which Wycombe lost 2–1 on aggregate.
Peterborough United
Martin was out of contract at the end of the 2008-09 season, and on 29 May 2008 he moved to Peterborough UnitedPeterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, who had just been promoted to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
. He signed a three year contract. On 28 September, Martin was announced as the new captain of Peterborough United, taking over from Craig Morgan
Craig Morgan (footballer)
Craig Morgan is a Welsh international footballer who currently plays as a defender for Football League Championship side Preston North End....
.
He played every match in his first season with the club as they gained promotion to the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
.
Norwich City
Following Mark Cooper's appointment as a replacement for Darren FergusonDarren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently in his second spell as the manager of Peterborough United...
in November 2009, Martin joined Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
on loan. On 4 January 2010 his transfer was made permanent and he joined Norwich on a two-and-a-half year contract. Martin scored his first goal for Norwich in the 3–1 defeat to Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, with a diving header on 14 September 2010. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Championship league leaders Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
on 1 January 2011, and a last-minute equaliser against Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
, leading fans to dub him "the Cafu of the Championship" or "the Norfolk Cafu", in honour of Cafu
Cafu
Marcos Evangelista de Moraes , better known as Cafu, is a former Brazilian footballer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest right-backs ever. He was given this nickname due to his speed up and down the right flank which was reminiscent of Cafuringa, a Brazilian forward from the 1970s...
. Martin scored his 5th Norwich goal in the 5-1 victory over Ipswich Town on 21 April 2011. On 7 May 2011, he was the runner up for the Norwich City F.C. Player of the Year award to winner Grant Holt
Grant Holt
Grant Holt is an English footballer, currently playing in the Premier League for Norwich City. He plays as a striker and is club captain....
, in a season where he played every minute of each game.
International career
Although he was born in England, Martin qualifies to play for Scotland through his Scottish father. On 17 May 2011, Martin was named in the ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
squad for the Nations Cup games against Wales and Ireland, making his debut as a late substitute.
Honours
Peterborough United:- 2008–09: League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Runner UpRunner-upRunner-up is a term used to denote a participant which finishes in second place in any of a variety of competitive endeavors, most notably sporting events and beauty pageants; in the latter instance, the term is applied to more than one of the highest-ranked non-winning contestants, the...
(promotion to The ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
)
Norwich City:
- 2009–10: League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Champions (promotion to The ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
) - Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
Runners-up (1): 2010–11