Saints wield axe and search for an instant saviour
Pellegrino sacked after dire show at Newcastle Former target Silva not in running for the job
Mauricio Pellegrino last night became the ninth Premier League manager to lose his job this season after being sacked by Southampton. An emergency meeting was called following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat by Newcastle United and, after a sequence of only one Premier League win in 17 matches since November, the club decided to make a change in a final attempt to galvanise the squad.
Pellegrino was appointed only last summer following the sacking of Claude Puel, who himself lasted one season despite leading the club to an eighth-place Premier League finish and a narrow League Cup final defeat by Manchester United.
Results have, however, got worse and Southampton are positioned precariously, only one point above the relegation zone. Southampton want to appoint a new manager before Sunday’s FA Cup quarterfinal against Wigan Athletic, although they do also now have almost three weeks until their next Premier League game, on March 31 at West Ham United.
Former Hull City and Watford manager Marco Silva is not understood to be a candidate but, with only eight Premier League games remaining and an immediate impact needed, experience of English football’s top flight is high on the list of requirements.
There is still a belief inside St Mary’s that Pellegrino could have been a long-term success but there was a sense after Saturday’s defeat by Newcastle that the immediate performances could hardly worsen if they made a change and that it might be necessary to preserve the club’s Premier League status. The situation had also been considered earlier in the season but an improvement in performances, notably a draw with Tottenham, had won Pellegrino more time.
Pellegrino was informed last night of the club’s decision and the story was broken by The Telegraph shortly before the club confirmed his departure at 8.50pm.
As well as Pellegrino, assistant manager Carlos Compagnucci and assistant first-team coach Xavier Tamarit also left Southampton yesterday. Former captain and goalkeeper Kelvin Davis will take training today with goalkeeping coach Dave Watson.
“We would like to place on record our thanks to Mauricio, Carlos and Xavier for their efforts and wish them well for the future,” said a club statement. “The club will look to appoint a new management team as soon as possible.”
Southampton considered Silva last summer before he was ultimately appointed by Watford but he then lost his job amid friction over his desire to replace Ronald Koeman at Everton.
The club also considered Frank de Boer as well as Thomas Tuchel last summer, and Slaven Bilic is currently keen to return to the Premier League, but the priority now is to make a swift appointment and they are already understood to have decided on a favoured candidate.
The Southampton board has recently appointed managers who are available and they are again likely to look first at those experienced candidates who are out of work. They previously also wanted someone who would play an attractive brand of football and be committed to giving young players their chance, but the urgency of their position means that they will prioritise a personality who can quickly inspire the players.
Executive director Les Reed, backed up by recruitment chief Ross Wilson, will lead the search and their selection is now also an important test of their processes. Reed had won praise for his handling of the departure of former manager Mauricio Pochettino and executive chairman Nicola Cortese but, having now effectively conceded that the last two managers were the wrong fit, there is particular scrutiny on this decision.
The wider backdrop is also significant. After Southampton were bought and taken out of administration by Markus Liebherr in 2009, a majority 80 per cent stake was sold last summer to the Chinese Gao family for £210million.
As part of that deal, they promised to keep the existing executive team in place. There has so far been little day-to-day interference but they have said little and fans are uncertain about their intentions.
The club sold Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool for £75 million in January but, even with the team already struggling, the only incoming signing was £19 million striker Guido Carrillo, who has yet to score.
The team improved marginally after Christmas but a sequence of draws in winnable home matches was ultimately most damaging amid a tally of just 29 goals and five wins in 30 Premier League games.
The decision to sack Pellegrino was still taken reluctantly but the players did not seem to be playing for him against Newcastle on Saturday and he reacted furiously to the performance.
“I think I observe some players that give up and we cannot show this,” he said.
It was a damning assessment and, with questions over the quality and mentality of the players, the next manager must also deal with a difficult schedule, even allowing for the chance to reach Wembley in the FA Cup. In their final eight league games, Southampton will be away from St Mary’s five times and their fixtures at home include Chelsea and Manchester City.