Southampton have parted ways with manager Ivan Juric following their shocking relegation from the Premier League. The decision comes on the heels of their 3-1 thrashing at Tottenham on Sunday, which sealed their fate in record time.
Juric took the reins from Russell Martin in December, but despite his best efforts, the 49-year-old could only muster a single league win at Ipswich in February. The team’s dismal performance continued, with Saints dropping seven of their last eight league matches.
Simon Rusk will take the helm as interim manager for the remainder of the season, with Adam Lallana by his side. The club’s statement thanked Juric and his staff for their hard work, but acknowledged that the team’s performances had not improved as hoped.
“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,” said a Southampton statement. “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 Saints remain grateful for their loyal fans, who have stuck by the team despite the tumultuous season. “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 is appreciated by everyone at the club. Despite the challenges that relegation will bring, our goal is to restore a sense of pride for them in their team and club once again.”
Southampton’s relegation with seven fixtures left is a bitter pill to swallow, as it sets an unwanted Premier League record. The team will now regroup and prepare for a fresh start in the Championship.