Southampton Reportedly Close to Appointing Ivan Juric as Manager

Southampton is reportedly nearing the appointment of Ivan Juric as their new manager, with an 18-month contract expected. The Croatian national is anticipated to take over from Russell Martin, whom the Saints dismissed on Sunday following their significant 5-0 defeat against Tottenham. Juric, 49, most recently managed Roma, where he was sacked in November after overseeing only 12 matches. This position at Southampton would represent Juric’s inaugural managerial engagement beyond Italy. The proposed agreement reportedly incorporates a clause allowing for a summer break. According to club sources, Juric was among two candidates considered to succeed Ralph Hasenhuttl when Nathan Jones was appointed in November 2022. The club’s objective is reportedly to secure a manager capable of instilling stability and discipline within the squad, particularly after the substantial loss to Spurs. It is improbable that Juric will be in charge for the upcoming match against Fulham this Sunday (14:00 GMT). Southampton currently occupies the last position in the Premier League standings, trailing safety by nine points, having secured only a single victory this season to date.