Southampton FC is facing automatic relegation back to the Championship. Of all people, Ivan Juric, who recently failed miserably in Rome, has been chosen for the difficult task of keeping the team in the league.
Southampton FC are in trouble in the Premier League. The Saints have only picked up five points from the first 16 league games – and are therefore bottom of the league. It is already nine points to the safe haven that currently adorns Leicester City. Six of the last seven competitive games have been lost.
After the heavy 5-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, which had already led by five goals at half-time, the club’s management pulled the plug. Team manager Russell Martin had to take his hat with immediate effect. The Scot, who was signed in the summer of 2023, made 73 competitive appearances with Southampton, 34 of which he won and 26 of which he lost.
It was time for a “new impulse”. Southampton is now hoping for this from a coach who, at his last club, had a resounding failure: Ivan Juric. The 49-year-old is to lead the seemingly hopeless mission to avoid relegation. He has been given a contract until June 30, 2026.
However, Juric is unlikely to take up the new post with excessive self-confidence. Roma signed the Croatian in mid-September to replace Daniele de Rossi, who was unexpectedly dismissed. After only twelve competitive games, however, of which Juric only managed to win four, his days in the Eternal City were already numbered again.
Juric did not really have a good relationship with world champion Mats Hummels, in particular, whom he hardly used. Under Juric’s successor Claudio Ranieri, the defender is now playing an important role and has recently flourished.
So now it’s England. For Juric, who has only ever trained in Italy, the Premier League is a great adventure. That at Fulham on Sunday (3 p.m.) starts. The eighth-placed team in the Premier League should actually score directly.
“It’s a big challenge, but I’m optimistic because I’ve seen a team that can do better,” said Juric, looking ahead to his new task, and also revealed what he intends to change. ”I want us to be more aggressive, to press much more and to be quick to act. That’s my idea of football.”
Before the turn of the year, Juric’s team face West Ham United on Boxing Day and travel to Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace on December 29.