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| Southampton FC |
Southampton have sacked
Nigel Adkins as
manager and
replaced him with the former
Espanyol manager
Mauricio Pochettino. The
Premier League club announced this morning that Adkins had been relieved of his managerial duties.
The
Saints are 15th in the
Premier League after coming back from 2-0 down to claim an impressive draw with
Chelsea at
Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, but that was not enough to save
Adkins from the axe.
The 40-year-old
Argentinian spent three years with
Espanyol, but was sacked in November with the club bottom of
La Liga with nine points from 13 games.
Pochettino will take charge of training on Saturday ahead of
Southampton's home
game with
Everton on Monday
A statement from the club said: "
Southampton Football Club has this morning appointed
Mauricio Pochettino as first-team manager, having relieved
Nigel Adkins of his
managerial duties.
"
Pochettino has earned a
reputation as one of the
most talented young coaches in
European football thanks to an impressive spell in
La Liga with
Espanyol.
"The
Argentine was widely linked with a future role at one of Spain's top clubs, but having left
Espanyol in November now joins Southampton to continue his top-flight managerial career.
"The club would like to thank
Nigel Adkins for his service over the past three seasons, and wish him well for the future."
Southampton's executive chairman,
Nicola Cortese, said: "This decision has been made with the long-term ambitions of
Southampton Football Club in mind. Whilst we acknowledge the contribution
Nigel has made during the past two years, for the club to progress and achieve our long-term targets a change was needed.
"
Mauricio is a well-respected coach of substantial quality who has gained a reputation as an
astute tactician and
excellent man manager. I have every confidence that he will inspire our
talented squad of players to
perform at the highest possible level.
"He also shares my belief that the most successful clubs are built by nurturing young players through a development system that provides a clear path to the first team, thereby creating a culture that keeps them at the club for the long term. This is an approach he has employed with great success in the past and I look forward to him bringing that experience and expertise to
Southampton."
Pochettino added: "This is the kind of opportunity that any
coach would relish.
Southampton is a club with great heritage, and an even more exciting future. There is a clear vision to take the club to a new era of sustained success in the
Premier League, and beyond, which I'm delighted to be part of."
