When Russell Martin took over as Southampton manager last summer, he joined a club with a fractured relationship between the fans and the team.
Southampton were fresh off the back of a season in which they came rock bottom of the Premier League and consequently suffered relegation to the second tier, ending an 11 year stay in the top flight.
The Saints won just two league games at home last season, with the St Mary’s faithful seeing three different managers in the dugout across the course of a wretched campaign.
The atmosphere at home games was understandably toxic, as club’s supporters had grown to expect defeat in their own stadium rather than hope for victory.
One of the biggest jobs the incoming Martin had ahead of him was to get the Southampton faithful back on side and everyone pulling in the same direction.
He has done that in remarkable fashion, with the season now set to culminate with the Championship play-off final against Leeds United.
Russell Martin has changed the atmosphere around Southampton
Martin arrived at a club in a real mess.
With relegation came not only a stop to the second tier but also uncertainty around the future of pretty much everyone at the club.
Many left, with others not sure about what their future held right up until the final day of the summer transfer window, as Martin was tasked with not only securing an instant return to the Premier League but a complete overhaul of the playing style in the process.
Whilst the 38-year-old manager may not have managed to achieve promotion via a top two finish, he has set up a Wembley final for the club’s fans.
Martin has given supporters a club with a clear identity to get behind again, with little touches such as the three fist pumps in front of the fans after a win going a long way to mend a broken relationship.
Winning helps, of course, and Southampton went on a record-breaking 25 game unbeaten run from the end of September to the beginning of February, with three 4-0 wins and one 5-0 win along the way.
The players seem to enjoy playing under Martin, whilst the fans – for the most part – enjoying watching their side again.
Martin blown away by Southampton support ahead of final
Now, their entire season comes down to one game, and Martin has issued one last rallying cry to the fanbase ahead of a monumental clash at Wembley.
The Saints boss spoke of his gratitude at the support the fanbase gave him and his players ahead of the 3-1 semi-final second leg win over West Brom, where the team bus was met by a sea of red and white, flares, singing and well-wishes two hours before kick-off.
Speaking about that night in his play-off final programme notes posted on Southampton’s official club website, Martin reflected on how special that support was, saying: “The play-offs stir up something unique in all of us.
“The welcome we received on the team coach coming into the stadium for our semi-final second leg against West Brom is something that will live with me forever.
“We knew it wouldn’t feel like any other game, but the response of the supporters blew me away that night just nine days ago.”
Martin went on to ask one last favour of the club’s supporters at Wembley, continuing: “It was an emotional scene, and the vibrant and passionate atmosphere reverberated inside the stadium from well before kick-off and throughout the whole 90 minutes.
“Many people said they’ve never seen St Mary’s like it. Bring that to Wembley today for us, and for yourselves.”
Southampton fans will undoubtedly show up for their side, and the best way to completely repair the scars of recent seasons would be a win at Wembley to return to the Premier League.