Southampton have appointed Ivan Juric as their new manager on an 18-month contract following the dismissal of Russell Martin.
The 49-year-old Croat replaces Martin, who was sacked after Southampton’s humiliating 5-0 loss to Tottenham, leaving the team at the bottom of the Premier League table. Juric’s previous managerial role ended in November at Roma, where he was dismissed after just 12 matches. However, his work at Hellas Verona and Torino earned him recognition for his strong managerial style, though his brief spell in Rome was less successful.
In his first comments as Southampton’s manager, Juric expressed optimism:
“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.”
He continued by outlining his intentions for the team:
“It’s important to immediately be connected with the fans. I want an aggressive team, and I think that fans of Southampton will like that.”
Juric’s appointment marks his first managerial role outside Italy. He has signed an 18-month deal, with the contract reportedly including a break clause for the summer. While Juric had been linked with the Southampton job before, especially during the search to replace Ralph Hasenhuttl in November 2022, he was ultimately not chosen over Nathan Jones.
The club is hoping Juric will bring the discipline and stability required to recover from their disastrous defeat to Spurs. Despite his appointment, it is unlikely that Juric will take charge of Southampton’s upcoming match against Fulham. His first game in charge is expected to be on Boxing Day, when Southampton hosts West Ham at home.
With the appointment of Ivan Juric, Southampton hopes to shift their fortunes and climb out of the relegation zone under his leadership.
