Southampton have this afternoon confirmed that Ralph Hasenhuttl is their new first team manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
The former RB Leipzig boss replaces Mark Hughes, who was axed after eight months in charge, taking the Saints to 18th in the Premier League table.
Hasenhuttl led RB Leipzig to the Europa League quarter finals as well as finished 2nd in the Bundesliga in his first season in charge.
Ralph Hasenhüttl has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal with #SaintsFC and will take over at the club tomorrow!
Read our full statement: https://t.co/f6F5G9omc8
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 5, 2018
SOUTHAMPTON CLUB STATEMENT:
Chairman Ralph Krueger said to the club website, “The urgency to find a path back to our potential and to the results that we expect cannot be underestimated. For that reason, we are extremely pleased that Ralph Hasenhüttl has agreed to become our new manager and do all he can to help guide us back on that path.
“This manager change offers us a fresh start and, very quickly, Ralph emerged as our ideal candidate. As a coach, he embodies the passion, structure, communication skill set, work ethic and appetite for growth that we strive for in our Southampton Way. The quick, smooth and seamless negotiation process underlines the character of the person that he is.
“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. 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. In our discussions, he very quickly aligned himself with the values and the vision of the club.
“Southampton Football Club’s past success was built on a clear identity. The foundation of this identity was a focus on developing players, whether from within our academy or after joining from other clubs. Ralph’s ability to teach the game and to develop talent is evident in his past and is a centrepiece of why he is the perfect choice to be the new Saints manager.”
Football fans have given their reaction with the majority just relieved their have gone for someone different than he usual lot – take a look at what the users are saying on the next page.
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