The Ibrox optimism train is gathering steam again – and predictably, Kris Boyd is the driver. After years of confidently proclaiming every new Rangers manager to be a guaranteed success, the former striker has now taken things a step further, likening incoming boss Russell Martin to none other than Martin O’Neill.
Martin has yet to manage a game for Rangers, but that hasn’t stopped Boyd from laying down comparisons to one of Celtic’s most iconic managers. The ex-defender, who had a brief spell at Ibrox in 2018, will now go head-to-head with Brendan Rodgers – the same man whose Celtic side schooled him during that spell.
Boyd’s take comes before a ball has been kicked under Martin, raising eyebrows not only for its timing but for the sheer scale of the comparison. O’Neill’s arrival in 2000 sparked a historic period of dominance at the Hoops, delivering silverware and transforming the club. To liken a completely unproven Martin to a managerial giant of Celtic’s modern era is, by any measure, an extraordinary leap.
He said: (Sky Sports), “We have seen it before. You go back to Dick Advocaat’s team. Totally wiped the floor with Celtic, then Martin O’Neill arrived, and they wiped the floor with that Rangers team, which was a good Rangers team.
“You look at Rangers’ problems. It didn’t come against Celtic. It was against everyone else. If Rangers can eradicate the results against everybody else, and start to build momentum early, and start winning the games against the rest, then the Glasgow derby will take care of itself.
“I have seen bigger point gaps than this turned around. It’s not like England, where you might have one big team who struggling, but there are another three or four who are doing okay, and you need to overturn the three or four.
“For Rangers, they only need to overtake Celtic for it to be a success. But it’s going to be a lot harder than you think.“
Despite the enthusiasm from Boyd and others in the media, the scale of the task ahead for Martin cannot be underestimated. Celtic remain champions for a reason, and Rodgers will be well aware of the narrative being pushed across the city. Motivation won’t be lacking when the sides meet.
Rodgers, who has already dismantled Martin’s Rangers as a player in 2018, will no doubt relish the chance to do the same from the touchline. The experience, depth, and winning mentality at Celtic give them the upper hand – no matter the noise from outside.
Comparisons to O’Neill carry weight because of what he achieved, not what was expected. If Martin wants to earn that kind of respect, he’ll need to deliver silverware and compete consistently at the top level. Anything less, and Boyd’s bold claims will join a long list of premature proclamations.
For now, the focus remains on the football. Celtic will quietly prepare under Rodgers, while the headlines swirl around Ibrox. As ever in Glasgow, talk is cheap – and the pitch will have the final say.
