Southampton call on Hasenhuttl to rescue club from relegation fight
Ralph Hasenhuttl has been tasked in reviving Premier League strugglers Southampton’s fortunes after being named their new manager yesterday.
The 51-year-old Austrian, who replaces Mark Hughes – after the former Manchester City, Fulham and Stoke manager was sacked on Monday – has signed a two-and-a-halfyear contract.
Hasenhuttl attracted Southampton’s interest through his success at his previous club RB Leipzig, guiding them to second in the German Bundesliga in the 2016/17 season and the Europa League quarter-finals last term. He left Leipzig after they finished sixth in the league last season.
Hasenhuttl takes over a side that did show some improvement in a 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United last Saturday - although it was too late to save Hughes’s job.
Chairman Ralph Krueger said Hasenhuttl’s success in taking unheralded German side Ingolstadt from the foot of the second tier to promotion augured well for Southampton’s future.
“We have been aware of Ralph since his days at FC Ingolstadt, where he showed the qualities that we believe we need at the club,” Krueger said. “He has since gone on to develop those attributes with a track-record of success in the Bundesliga and with a progressive and ambitious club in RB Leipzig.
“As soon as we met, Ralph’s enthusiasm for football was contagious and his hunger to take on a new and challenging job in the Premier League was evident. His hunger to take on a new and challenging job in the Premier League was evident.
“This manager change offers us a fresh start and, very quickly, Ralph emerged as our ideal candidate.”