- Russell Martin praised Jens Berthel Askou after the Dane’s move to Toulouse.
- Askou delivered an emotional farewell message reflecting on his successful Motherwell spell.
- Martin admitted mistakes during his failed Rangers reign after contrasting Scottish Premiership experiences.
Former Rangers manager Russell Martin has wished departing Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou well after the Dane confirmed his move to French side Toulouse.
Askou officially bid farewell to Scottish football this week following a hugely successful spell at Fir Park, with Martin among those to publicly acknowledge the impact he made north of the border.
Posting on social media, the former Rangers coach wrote: “Amazing job Jens my friend.
“Good luck in your next adventure! Speak soon.”
Russell Martin praises former SPFL rival
The message comes after Askou shared an emotional farewell statement on LinkedIn reflecting on a whirlwind year in Scotland.
One that saw him transform Motherwell’s fortunes and win widespread admiration from supporters and rivals alike.
“When I arrived at Motherwell last summer, I didn’t really know what to expect,” Askou wrote.
“However, I knew I was in for a very interesting and developing experience in an extremely football-passionate country.
“Little did I know of all the joy and magical moments coming my way as well as the lovely people I was going to meet.
“The success we’ve shared, and the excitement sparked among supporters have been way beyond what I could’ve ever hoped for.
“I will be forever grateful for this experience and carry these memories and friendships with me as I continue my journey in Toulouse.
“Thank you for everything, Motherwell FC.
“I’m beyond excited for what’s ahead of me in the coming years.
“Working in a big and very competitive league with a talented group of players and staff supported by top leaders in a beautiful city in southern France.”
Russell Martin ridiculed, Jens Berthel Askou revered
The contrast between Askou’s rise in Scotland and Martin’s difficult Rangers tenure is stark.
Both managers began their Scottish Premiership journeys against each other at Fir Park on the opening weekend of the campaign.
The pair sharing a 1-1 draw that, in hindsight, marked the beginning of two vastly different stories.
While Askou quickly built momentum and credibility at Motherwell, Martin’s time at Ibrox unravelled rapidly.
The former Southampton boss was dismissed in early October following a 1-1 draw away to Falkirk.
Rangers had managed just one win in seven matches under Martin, drawing five and suffering a damaging home defeat to Hearts as pressure intensified around the former defender.
Russell Martin on what went wrong at Rangers
In the months since leaving Ibrox, Martin has spoken about where he believes things went wrong during his brief spell in Glasgow.
“The biggest thing I am from that is frustrated,” Martin admitted recently.
“There was so many small things we could have done a little bit better.
“I should have been a bit more rigid with formation and certain principles and I bent and flexed to fit the newness of the group.”
Martin also suggested he would approach squad rebuilding differently if handed another opportunity at a club of Rangers’ size and expectation.
“I would try to change less too quickly in personnel and kept some of the group that understood what it took,” he explained.
Readrangers.com analysis – Jack Cranmer
Despite the disappointing outcome in Scotland, Martin remains linked with high-profile roles.
He has recently been linked with vacancies at Leicester City as well as potential opportunities in Italy and Spain.
The 40-year-old also delivered what was described as a “tactical masterclass” for the Football Association of Wales in recent weeks.
For Askou meanwhile, the next chapter now begins in Ligue 1 after leaving Scotland with his reputation significantly enhanced, and with the respect of even those whose own time in the Premiership proved far less successful.
