In a shocking move and a major shift in direction, Southampton have officially parted ways with manager Ivan Juric following their historic relegation from the Premier League.
The announcement came on Monday, less than 24 hours after the Saints were beaten 3-1 by Tottenham Hotspur—a result that sealed their fate in unprecedented fashion.
With just 31 games played, Southampton’s relegation sets a new Premier League record for the earliest drop in terms of remaining fixtures.
The club now holds the unwanted distinction of being relegated with seven matches still left to play, surpassing Derby County (2008) and Huddersfield Town (2019), who both bowed out with six games remaining.
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Juric, who replaced Russell Martin in December, inherited a struggling side already drowning in the relegation zone. Despite some early hope, including a rare win against Ipswich in February, the Croatian could not turn the tide.
Under his brief tenure, Southampton managed only one league victory, losing 25 of their 31 top-flight games this season. To make matters worse, the Saints have lost seven of their last eight matches.
In an official club statement, Southampton confirmed Juric’s departure: “We can confirm that we have today reached an agreement with our men’s first-team manager, Ivan Juric, to end his spell at the club. Ivan came to Southampton at a tough time and was tasked with trying to improve a squad in a difficult situation.”
“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 club emphasized the importance of transparency and forward planning as they prepare for life back in the Championship: “With relegation 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. We remain incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of our fans.”
“Their continued dedication and passion, despite what has been a very tough season, is remarkable and appreciated by everyone at the club. Despite the challenges ahead, our goal is to restore a sense of pride in the team and the badge once again.“
Stepping in as interim manager for the remainder of the season is Simon Rusk, who will be supported by former Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana—returning in a coaching capacity to a club where he made his name.
As the dust settles on this disappointing campaign, attention is already turning to who might take the reins permanently.
Among the frontrunners is Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl, a familiar face at St Mary’s, having served as assistant to Ralph Hasenhüttl during a previous spell at the club. Rohl was reportedly in contention for the job before Juric was appointed.
Also linked with the vacancy is Liam Rosenior, who has been making waves in France during an impressive debut season in charge of Strasbourg.
Southampton’s next test comes this weekend when they host a high-flying Aston Villa side. Though the result may not change their fate, it will be the start of a new chapter under interim leadership—with a long summer of rebuilding looming large.
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