Southampton Names Ivan Juric as New Manager

Southampton has named Ivan Juric, a former Croatia international, as their new manager, signing him to an 18-month contract. Juric, a Croat, takes over from Russell Martin, who was dismissed by the Saints last week following their 5-0 loss to Tottenham. The 49-year-old Juric previously managed Roma, where he was dismissed in November after overseeing only 12 matches. Juric stated, “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 added, “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.” This position at Southampton represents Juric’s initial managerial engagement outside of Italy, and his contract reportedly contains a summer break clause. Juric commenced his managerial career at Mantova in 2014, subsequently managing Crotone, Genoa, and Hellas Verona. Before his tenure at Roma, he guided Torino to three consecutive mid-table finishes in Serie A, establishing a reputation for leading teams with strong defensive capabilities. According to club sources, Juric was among two candidates considered to replace Ralph Hasenhuttl when Nathan Jones was appointed in November 2022. Following the significant loss to Spurs, the club reportedly sought a manager capable of instilling solidity and discipline within the squad. Juric is not expected to oversee Sunday’s fixture against Fulham, indicating that his debut in the Saints dugout will likely occur at home versus West Ham on 26 December. Southampton currently occupies the last position in the Premier League standings, nine points adrift of safety, having secured only one victory this season to date.