Alex McCarthy has explained that Russell Martin was a major reason behind his move to Leicester City, with the 36-year-old saying his previous experience of working with Martin made the decision an easy one after 10 years at Southampton.
McCarthy joined Leicester in July on a two-year contract after leaving Southampton, and he admitted Martin’s message at the end of the season helped set the move in motion. Leicester are now sorting out their goalkeeping picture at the start of a League One season in which they are expected to dominate possession, and McCarthy’s arrival adds another layer to that competition.
Why McCarthy chose Leicester City
McCarthy said the chance to reunite with Martin mattered because he already knew what the coach expected and how he wanted his team to play. “I had been at Southampton a long time, finished the season there and had a message from Russ come the end of the season,” he said.
He added that previous experience working with Martin gave him clarity on the move. “I've worked with him previously, so I knew what he was about, the way he wanted to play and the type of person he was.”
That matters because Leicester are not just signing a goalkeeper to stop shots. They are signing someone who has to fit a specific style, with build-up play and composure in possession forming a big part of the job.
The goalkeeping battle at Leicester
McCarthy also made clear that the goalkeeping group is already a key part of the club’s preparation. Jakub Stolarczyk was Leicester’s number one last season, while Franco Ravizzoli arrived on a free transfer from Blackpool this summer. Last week, Fran Vieites mutually agreed to terminate his contract with Leicester.
Stolarczyk started Leicester’s Carabao Cup first round win over Northampton this week, and McCarthy could make his debut at Notts County this weekend. For a club expected to control games in League One, the goalkeeper’s role is about more than making saves; it is about helping the side build attacks from the back.
“The goalkeeping area is so different to the outfield,” McCarthy said. “Coming here and meeting Jakub and the other lads has been great, they’ve been great with me. Obviously it’s a little bit different as opposed to the outfield boys, but it’s important, every day, that we push each other, whoever’s playing, supporting and doing what you can do.”
He also stressed the importance of harmony within the group. “It’s important to have a relationship in the group in order to push each other and keep raising each other’s standards. That’s important. I’ve been in groups before where the dynamic has been trickier and it's made sessions harder. But coming here, the lads have been great, everyone wants the same thing.”
Built for Martin’s style of play
McCarthy’s comments underline why Leicester were prepared to bring him in. At this level, a goalkeeper has to be comfortable with the ball at his feet, and McCarthy said that training under Martin places that demand front and centre.
“It’s a lot different, you’re not just there to make saves, you’re building up play, a lot comes through you, so it’s a very important part of the game for his style of play,” he said.
“Training-wise we do a lot more with the ball at our feet. It’s just about being calm and relaxed, obviously we need the movement from the lads in front of us to give us the options. As long as we have the options, it gives us a great foundation to play how we want to play.”
That is the clearest sign yet that Leicester’s goalkeeping decision is about fit as much as form. McCarthy, who has also played for Reading and Crystal Palace, turned down other offers to join Leicester and now looks set to compete for a place in a team that must be organised, calm and technically secure if it is going to live up to expectations.
This weekend may bring his first chance to show how quickly he can settle. If he does get his debut at Notts County, it will be the first step in what Leicester will hope is a straightforward but properly competitive goalkeeping race.
