Former RB Leipzig boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has been been appointed Southampton manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
Southampton sacked Mark Hughes on Monday, eight months after he took charge of the club, with Saints 18th in the Premier League table.
Austrian Hasenhuttl, 51, has been out of work since leaving Leipzig in May, ending a two-year spell at the club.
"As soon as we met, Ralph's enthusiasm for football was contagious," said Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger.
"His hunger to take on a new and challenging job in the Premier League was evident. In our discussions, he quickly aligned himself with the values and the vision of the club."
Hasenhuttl led Leipzig to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga in his first season in charge, after taking over following their promotion from the second tier.
The former Ingolstadt manager guided Leipzig to sixth in the German top-flight last season but left after failing to agree a contract extension.
He will formerly take over on Thursday with first team assistant coach Kelvin Davis taking charge for Wednesday's game against Tottenham at Wembley.
"This manager change offers us a fresh start and, very quickly, Ralph emerged as our ideal candidate," Krueger added.
"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."
teigher
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Fantastic news, can't wait for him to get started!
They should have hired the former Monaco manager.
ointment
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Good stuff no one bad has ever come from Germany via Austria....................
Great appointment... First time in ages they are stopping the rot and moving forward... Best wishes
fashionman
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The money spent on paying off the last three managers could have bought some decent players. What a waste.
At least either of Pardew Big Sam Pulis Moyes was not appointed
Justinbra
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The money spent on paying off the last three managers could have bought some decent players. What a waste.
He'll make it past Christmas cos its so close but be gone by Easter.
babysogane
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Hum......New to PL, let us wait and see.
If he can't get a result against Cardiff, they're doomed!
taxation
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Only trouble is, that the players are simply not good enough. How many of the current squad would make it into the Liverpool team. After all, Southampton are Liverpool's feeder club
Genuinely excited about this appointment, well done Saints!!
Carloer
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as a man utd fan, is it wrong to be envious of these talented young managers going to teams that aren't utd? I think we need a serious rethink about our manager going forward...
Now people are getting to understand that Moyes, Big Sam, Pardew, Pulis and Hugheson are Championship coaches.
nikanni
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Hopefully Mark Hughes never graces the Premier League ever again. Just not his level.
Err so we're the previous managers.. apparently. Ha ha.
Madridlove
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Just in time to see and get a feel for the squad before the transfer market opens, and possibly knows of people in Europe who could be of benefit to the Saints. Looks like the board learnt from last year in not waiting so long to switch managers. An exciting appointment.
Hasenhuttl's Red & White Army! Welcome Saint Hasenhuttl!
Muhsina
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Just in time to see and get a feel for the squad before the transfer market opens, and possibly knows of people in Europe who could be of benefit to the Saints. Looks like the board learnt from last year in not waiting so long to switch managers. An exciting appointment.
Only trouble is, that the players are simply not good enough. How many of the current squad would make it into the Liverpool team. After all, Southampton are Liverpool's feeder club
citizeno
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Exciting appointment - a refreshing change from the overrated usual suspects. (His name translates roughly as "rabbit hutch", by the way.)
Hum......New to PL, let us wait and see.
Jessicaa
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Exciting appointment - a refreshing change from the overrated usual suspects. (His name translates roughly as "rabbit hutch", by the way.)
The money spent on paying off the last three managers could have bought some decent players. What a waste.
Grammer
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Exciting appointment - a refreshing change from the overrated usual suspects. (His name translates roughly as "rabbit hutch", by the way.)
Good stuff no one bad has ever come from Germany via Austria....................
Joeleman
1
Fantastic news, can't wait for him to get started!
Uniqukiss
1
Great appointment, I only hope for Soton it isn't too late. He needs an awesome transfer window!
thereforer
1
I think he is an excellent choice for the Saints, and also for the PL - he will also be very interested in developing the academy side of Southampton - happy for the saints and hope it works out for them. regards from a german toffee
yukon
1
The Saints board was also decisive in giving Hughes a 3-year contract despite his terrible managerial record, then sacking him after a dozen games. They'll be hoping they finally get a decision right.
terminus
1
Good luck to him. Southampton have some decent players who weren't helped by the terrible tactics of Mark Hughes. Hasenhuttl still has a lot to prove but it's better him being given a chance than Allardyce, Pardew or Pulis. Remember what happened when pochettino was allowed to get on with his job and he was backed? Maybe time for the board to have some faith in a proper manager again.
Fatherof
1
Exciting appointment - a refreshing change from the overrated usual suspects. (His name translates roughly as "rabbit hutch", by the way.)
Lorenlous
1
Just in time to see and get a feel for the squad before the transfer market opens, and possibly knows of people in Europe who could be of benefit to the Saints. Looks like the board learnt from last year in not waiting so long to switch managers. An exciting appointment.
Rosaboss
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Hopefully Mark Hughes never graces the Premier League ever again. Just not his level.
damone
1
as a man utd fan, is it wrong to be envious of these talented young managers going to teams that aren't utd? I think we need a serious rethink about our manager going forward...
lopegood
1
Excellent news - I'm excited about Saints for the first time in a long while. You can't change who you support and I still always hope we'll win, but it's been a gruelling time for us Saints fans the last 18 months, with only a relegation escape to quicken the pulse!
Halloween
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Very excited with this appointment as a Saints fan! This is the man to take us back to the first half of the table.
Louleiew
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Looks like a good appointment. Good luck Saints!
Melancholy
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give the bloke a chance - no one had heard of Arsene Wenger when he first arrived and look what happened - until he is proved to be awful give him a break
TDgarden
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Good to see Southampton looking outside of the manager merry go round, I hope he does well and other teams are a bit more adventurist with their next appointments.
Busterbe
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This just shows the lack of patience with regards managers in modern day football. If they'd waited until Monday then Harry would be out of the jungle and ready to go!
inoculate
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Saints problem is actually finding quality players to replace the stars that leave not trying to keep them, you can’t keep a player once big clubs come calling.
Footballlimr
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Complete and total mayhem in the Alan Pardew household. The phone rings in anticipation of being offered an interview about the Southampton managers job. Then brutal reality as it turns out it was an ambulance chaser asking if he had been sold PPI.
Pogbalove
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I view his appointment with anticipation. He did an excellent job with his unfancied teams in Germany. At least Southampton have not lurched towards the many 'old' school English league managers. 'Hope' he does well.
ewerkea
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Did a good job in Germany and Southampton have a good record of unknown managers doing well. One will be in the opposition dugout tonight at Wembley...
Lingaluards
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Good luck Saints I hope it works out for.you. Your new managers lack of prem exp might be an issue until he learns the ropes. He will need time though, something all managers dont have these days. All the best from a Liverpool fan.
Halloween
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Not good news for the other teams down the bottom. This guys teams play attractive and effective football. Glad to see Southampton avoid the usual band of low-end journeymen.
againlike
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Good luck to him and glad that the board moved decisively.
herbivoro
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Can’t possibly be as bad as the inept welshman
Lidroid
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Good luck to him, I like Saints as a club and fanbase so I'd happily see him turn it around and avoid the drop. His Leipzig side played some corking football as well so there's hopefully that to look forward to as well. Southampton did right getting shot of Hughes early, he's got time to suss the squad out and then sort the issues out in Jan. Hopefully it's the last we see of Sparky in the PL.
Leslevi
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"Ralph Hasenhüttl's managerial CV 2013-14: Guided Ingolstadt from bottom of Bundesliga 2 to 10th 2014-15: Won Bundesliga 2 2015-16: Finished 11th in the Bundesliga 2016-17: Took over newly-promoted Leipzig, finished 2nd in the Bundesliga 2017-18: Finished 6th in Bundesliga" BT Sport twitter Looks a great appointment. Hopefully his premier league plyers egos don't stop him from succeeding
quaooma
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Impressive in Germany - could be excellent for Saints
interfaces
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Nice to see struggling PL teams aren't playing the dinosaur merry-go-round anymore and aren't employing the likes of Pulis, Allardyce etc that will only be sacked in less than 12 months anyway
wanzs
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The new manager's name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but a so called Wenger was an unknown when he had joined Arsenal from the Japanese league many years ago. So at least this is a refreshing break from the managerial merry-go-round. Wish him well!