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Southampton have announced former Red Bull Leipzig manager Ralph Hassenhuttl as their manager, replacing Mark Hughes who was relieved of his duties on Monday morning.
Hughes guided Southampton to safety last season after taking the job on in March, but just one win in 14 games this season and a series of poor performances saw his position deemed untenable, and the board took action.
They immediately sought a replacement, with former Portugal manager Paolo Sousa a hot favourite, as well as former Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores, but it was the Austrian Hassenhuttl who was given the task of saving Southampton.
The clubs finds themselves in the relegation zone, which is becoming familiar to the Southampton fans after last season and a steady downwards trajectory since Ronald Koeman departed for Everton. But there is a new sense of belief amongst them with the new appointment.
Hassenhuttl achieved great things with Leipzig, he guided them to second place in the Bundesliga in their first ever season in the division, finishing above more established sides such the likes of Bayer Leverkuse, Dortmund and Monchengladbach.
Southampton fans can look forward to a high intensity game, with a lot of running, chances created and the utilisation of the fantastic youth academy they possess. Hassenhuttl played a big part in the development of now Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita, as well as German wonderkid Timo Werner.
He has been tasked with keeping Saints in the Premier League with just over half a season left, they are not yet adrift of those above them, but a first game against Cardiff and Neil Warnock will be a stern introduction to the Premier League, and immediately thrust into a ‘six-pointer’
