Ivan Juric axed as Southampton plot Premier League comeback

The Saints have struggled mightily this season, and Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur confirmed their drop to the Championship with a record-breaking seven games still to play, the earliest relegation in the competition's history.

The club wasted no time in addressing the managerial situation, announcing Juric's departure on Monday afternoon via an official statement. "We can confirm that we have today reached an agreement with our Men's First Team Manager, Ivan Jurić, to end his spell at the club," Southampton declared on their website.

The 49-year-old Croatian, who had stints at AS Roma, Genoa, and Torino before joining, took over from Russell Martin in December 2024 on an 18-month deal. However, his tenure failed to spark a turnaround, with the Saints securing just two wins from 16 matches across all competitions under his watch.

"Ivan came to Southampton at a tough time and was tasked with trying to improve a squad in a difficult situation," the club's statement continued. "Unfortunately, we haven't seen performances progress the way we had hoped, but we would like to thank Ivan and his staff for their honesty and hard work as they fought against the odds to try and keep us up."

The hierarchy acknowledged the steep challenge Juric faced but admitted the lack of results left them with no choice.

With relegation now a reality, Southampton are shifting focus to the future. "With relegation to the Championship now confirmed, we believe it is important to give fans, players, and staff some clarity on the future as we head into a very important summer," the statement added.

The hunt for a permanent successor is already underway, spearheaded by Group technical director Johannes Spors, with the goal of bouncing back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

In the interim, Simon Rusk will step up from the coaching staff to lead the team for the final seven fixtures, assisted by club veteran Adam Lallana. Southampton expressed confidence in the duo, noting on their official X account, "Simon Rusk has agreed to take charge of the team as Interim Manager for the remaining seven fixtures of the season, and will be assisted by Adam Lallana." This move aims to steady the ship as the Saints prepare for a critical summer rebuild.

Journalist Ben Jacobs weighed in on the shake-up, suggesting potential long-term targets for the managerial hotseat. "Juric's departure to be confirmed imminently," he posted on X. "Danny Rohl high in Southampton's thinking." Rohl, currently at Sheffield Wednesday, has emerged as a frontrunner alongside other names like Liam Rosenior, as the Saints eye a fresh face to spearhead their Championship charge.

Despite the gloom of relegation, Southampton remain thankful for their loyal supporters. "We remain incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of our fans," the club said. "Their continued dedication and passion, despite what has been a very tough season, is remarkable and is appreciated by everyone at the club."

Looking ahead, they vowed, "Our goal is to restore a sense of pride for them in their team and club once again."

For now, all eyes are on Rusk and Lallana to salvage some dignity in the remaining matches, while the board plots a swift return to the top flight. Southampton's next chapter starts here, and the pressure is on.