Hasenhuttl: How I came back from 9-0 DOWN
RALPH: I SAID TO THE BOARD AFTER THE GAME ‘IF I WAS YOU I’D SACK ME, WE WERE HOPELESS’ .. BUT THE WAY WE HAVE ALL STUCK TOGETHER’S BEEN INCREDIBLE
EIGHT months ago Ralph Hasenhuttl went to the Southampton board and admitted they should sack him.
Now he is celebrating a new fouryear contract after one of the biggest turnarounds in club history.
Hasenhuttl looked for all the world like a dead man walking when his side were crushed 9-0 by Leicester in October.
It was the biggest home defeat suffered in a top-flight league game in this country.
Saints were abject. Thrashed and humiliated on their own turf, they had won only two of their 10 fixtures and looked like relegation material.
Hasenhuttl later admitted he went to the board and said: “If I were in your place, I would sack me. We were hopeless. A disaster.”
A shortlist of potential replacements was even compiled – but Saints kept faith with the 52-year-old Austrian, and their patience has been rewarded.
After signing his bumper new deal yesterday, Hasenhuttl said: “I said when I arrived at the club we were at the beginning of a long journey, one that would bring emotion and hopefully enjoyment. We have had moments where we could celebrate together, and some that have been emotional and also challenging.
“The way we have handled this together as a group of people has been incredible for me, and I believe we have strong foundations here that can allow us to take the next steps in our progress as a team.
“For me, this is an important step in the journey. My players, our staff, and of course, the supporters must understand my commitment to this club and to what we are trying to build together.
“We value the same philosophies and this is a big part of why I want to stay, and hope we can share in some very successful moments.”
Hasenhuttl never thought about resigning. But he knew how precarious his situation was.
Unrest in the dressing room was growing, prompting a tactical rethink in which he eventually abandoned three at the back to go with a 4-4-2.
By January, Saints were ninth, riding high on a run of four successive away wins.
In fairness, Hasenhuttl plenty of support.
A classy text message from Sir Alex Ferguson (above) after the Leicester disaster lifted his spirits, senior players rallied the
had squad, and the board stood firm. His new deal is also a reward for all the hard work he has put in during lockdown developing a blueprint for the club’s academy called SFC Playbook.
Hasenhuttl, who flew to Munich to be with his family, spent hours compiling footage to create an archive of training sessions.
These can be easily followed by coaches to make sure all age groups at the club play the same brand of football as the first team.
Saints legend Matt Le Tissier said: “It was a bit disorganised when Ralph came in.
“But his organisational skills and leadership have really impressed the board. They stuck by him and have reaped the rewards of that. He sat down in lockdown and has done a complete plan with every age group from under-nines upwards, to have a style of play which will go through the whole club.
“Not just a style, the way they eat, the way they train.
“From what I hear, Ralph is loving every second and wants to stay there for a long time.
“I think he’s had a huge amount of mental strength to turn things around.
“The club are delighted he’s signed. It’s great news.”
Along with Hasenhuttl, assistant coach Richard Kitzbichler has also extended his contract, and the club sit 14th, seven points clear of the relegation zone.