WHEN Russell Martin was appointed Southampton manager on this day in 2023 he declared that he would take the club back to the Premier League.

"My aim is to get this club back where it belongs - in the top flight of English football," he promised in his first interview.

"I am ready for this challenge and will give everything to achieve this aim and to give the supporters a team that makes them proud."

On Sunday, May 26, Martin delivered on that promise by winning the Championship playoff final at Wembley, seeing Saints return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

In his first year as Saints boss, Martin has been credited with transforming the culture at the club after a bitterly disappointing relegation.

He also had to deal with the upheaval of the summer transfer window, which saw a number of key players depart while he was still getting his feet under the table.

His first 366 days in charge have not been without fault - the heavy 5-0 defeats at Sunderland and Leicester City stand out as the lowest moments by far.

Across his 54 games as boss, Martin has posted a 55.5 per cent win rate (30 matches). He also drew 11 games and lost 13 times.

His side have been caught out defensively at times, they have leaked 71 goals, but more important than that, they've scored 100 times.

He will now step into the Premier League for the first time as a manager having made 125 appearances in the division as a player.

The former defender faces the tough task of keeping a newly promoted side in the Premier League.

Over the last three seasons, only four of the nine recently prompted sides have avoided immediate relegation.

What was your favourite moment of Russell Martin's first year in charge of Southampton?