Ivan Juric and Southampton have mutually agreed to part ways following the club’s confirmed drop from the Premier League after a 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The result marked Southampton’s 25th league defeat this season and confirmed their exit from the top flight with eight matches remaining – making it the earliest relegation in Premier League history.
Juric had been brought in to replace Russell Martin in December on an 18-month contract. However, under his leadership, the team managed just two wins from 16 games. Only one of those came in the Premier League – a 2-1 away victory at Ipswich Town.
In a statement, the club acknowledged the uphill battle Juric faced upon his arrival and expressed gratitude for his commitment, saying they appreciated his and his coaching staff’s efforts in trying to turn things around. Southampton emphasized the importance of giving supporters and players a clear direction going into what they described as a “critical summer.”
Simon Rusk is expected to take over managerial duties in the short term, with former Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana assisting him. The club now becomes one of the few to have gone through two permanent managerial changes in a single season, joining Leeds United, who did the same in the 2022-23 campaign.
Juric’s time at St Mary’s lasted only 107 days, placing his tenure among the ten shortest managerial spells in Premier League history. Despite his brief stay, the 49-year-old was unable to lift the team from the foot of the table. With Southampton stuck on 10 points, they need two more from the final eight games to avoid breaking Derby County’s all-time low of 11 points from the 2007-08 season.
Before joining the Saints, Juric had been dismissed by Roma last November after managing just 12 games for the Serie A side. His managerial experience in Italy includes stints at Torino, Hellas Verona, Genoa, Crotone, and Mantova.
Southampton now turns its attention to rebuilding in the Championship, hoping for a fresh start after a turbulent season.
