Southampton confirm appointment of Ivan Juric as new manager

Southampton have appointed Ivan Juric as their new manager on an 18-month contract, pending final work-permit approval.

The 49-year-old replaces Russell Martin, who was dismissed last Sunday night just hours after a 5-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur left the Saints at the bottom of the table with five points, nine adrift from safety.

Juric arrives at St Mary’s Stadium following a brief stint at Roma, where he managed only 12 games after being appointed by the Serie A club in September.

“I’m very pleased. I think it’s a really big challenge but I’m very optimistic because I saw a team that can do better,” Juric said on the club’s official website.

“It’s important to immediately be connected with the fans. I want us to be more aggressive, to do much more pressing and we have to be quick to change mentality because this is my idea of football.”

The Southampton job marks Ivan Juric’s first managerial role outside of Italy, with his contract reportedly including a summer break clause.

Club sources reveal that Juric was one of two candidates considered as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s successor when Nathan Jones was appointed in November 2022.

The club is believed to have sought a manager who could bring stability and discipline to the squad, especially following their heavy defeat to Tottenham.

Juric is unlikely to take charge of Sunday’s match at Fulham, meaning his debut in the Southampton dugout is expected to come at home against West Ham on December 26.

Currently, Southampton sit at the bottom of the Premier League table, nine points adrift of safety, with just one win to their name this season.

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