Tonda Eckert outlines his plans for Southampton after being named new permanent head coach

Tonda Eckert outlines his plans for Southampton after being named as their new permanent head coach having impressed.

He has signed a contract until 2027, and revealed big ambitions, challenging his players to get the Saints back in the Premier League.

They have won four of their five games since he took charge on an interim basis at the start of November, and have helped guide them up to 14th in the table, five points off the playoff places.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Southampton Football Club is delighted to confirm that Tonda Eckert has agreed to become Men’s First Team Head Coach on a permanent basis, signing a contract until 2027.

Eckert has led the team to four wins in five games since taking charge on an interim basis at the start of November, a run that has seen the club climb up the table and pick up a total of 12 points from 15 available.

Most importantly, the 32-year-old has united both the playing squad and supporters thanks to a committed, attacking and entertaining style of play.

Group Technical Director Johannes Spors said: “I’m delighted that Tonda has accepted our offer of becoming the permanent Men’s First Team Head Coach following his spell in interim charge.

“His empathy for the playing group and the clarity with which he communicates his ideas have been central to the team’s improvement since he took charge.

“The great results he has achieved in that time, not just in terms of performances and points, but also in the way he has brought together players and supporters, has shown everyone what he is capable of achieving.”

Tonda Eckert said: “I’m very proud. It’s a very proud feeling to represent this football club. I think that we’ve had a great start and now it is up to us to continue.

“We go all in; there is no other way. I don’t shy away from being ambitious to say that we want to play for promotion, whatever that is going to look like in the end. We will go for every single point there is to take.”

“Whenever there is a change, normally the reason is that things haven’t gone the way that we wanted them to. I just knew that we needed to lift the place again, get some new energy into the players and into the staff, and we will continue in that direction.

“I think we have an excellent group of players, but first and foremost people, together. That is always going to be a strength, but we need to make sure that we are able to transform that into an ambition on the pitch.

“I think they all need to be on board, and that is my job to create that feeling of being together, and if we get that bit right I am very sure that we look into a very bright future.

“We go all in; there is no other way. I don’t shy away from being ambitious to say that we want to play for promotion, whatever that is going to look like in the end. We will go for every single point there is to take.”

On the role of the fans: “I have tried to say this a couple of times: in every football club, for me, the fans are everything. The football club lives from emotions, from the atmosphere in the stadium, from the support.

“We have an excellent fanbase. We have been starting to get that across, especially in the home games.

“Away games so far have been quite close, so the travel was not too far away, but it is brilliant to see in the away games we have a sold-out away section, and that just gives us so much energy and moments in the games that we need in order to win football games.

“The fans have been excellent with me from the very first day. It is my responsibility and I’m very much aware that I will need to confirm that again and again and again, to represent the football club and the fanbase in the best possible way, and I can promise to live up to that 24/7.”

Twitter users reacted as Tonda Eckert outlines his plans for Southampton after being named new permanent head coach…

@Saintstepgar: Give the man some proper experience in the back room. He’ll need it. Would have preferred a bigger name with direct champ experience but he’s early the right to take the role so he gets my full backing. Good TE.

@SFCJoeyy_: Give him a striker and a keeper in Jan and we’ll challenge top 2

@_scsc_: Good decision. Back him in January.

@FootballMartin_: If we keep seeing performances like we did against Charlton and Leicester, he’ll be just fine. There’ll be tests along the way, no doubt but the players keep talking about his level of detail, something we haven’t really heard about previous managers. #SaintsFC

@Gordonturner3: Let him do his own transfers in Jan he needs a keeper and striker and let him chose his back room staff and he will grow with the players and think this chould be a good fit the young players like him and do what he asks think he gives structure

@Si_A11en: Finishes on 90 points minimum and takes us up. Simple as that

@Puel_Out: Needs support with a top quality backroom staff. Hope it works. Still feels a bit of a gamble.

@SFCMikeKavs: Haven’t given him enough time if you ask me. Should have waited to see what the reaction is like after the defeat to Millwall – otherwise, we could be back to square one with a run of shit results. Hopefully this pays off 🙏

@yjw_x: Very marmite decision. Fully back him though and I hope others do too.

@GazzSmith4: Find the timing a little strange, given we lost to Millwall & haven’t had chance to see the reaction yet. Would have given it these 2 home games before making a decision. Decent job interview though with 4 wins in 5. I’ll back him 100%, but feels like another SR gamble #saintsfc

@charliehawk93: Pleased with this and think he deserves a chance at the full time job! I’m just praying he’s not another manager who is amazing as interim, then fails to deliver as the permanent boss 🙏🏻 #saintsfc

@formulabills: Happy with this. No thrills appointment and has team playing well. Issue is can we keep that up

@StateMarys: Very happy for Tonda, I do think tomorrow’s game (which is to say how we respond to Millwall and being figured out) is absolutely massive for him though. #saintsfc

@BigJimUTS: Good move from the club, however do think they should’ve taken a bit more time with this. Feels a little rushed, don’t want a repeat of the last time we appointed an interim #SaintsFC

@timosullivan81: Probably would have waited to see how we got on tomorrow before this but he was always going to get the job. SR need to back him in January #saintsfc

@sfc_jack_: Don’t hate this, hard to argue against this decision given the games he took charge of. Now SR need to pull their finger out and bring in the best backroom team possible for the man. #SaintsFC