Juric Out as Southampton Manager After Relegation Blow

Manager Ivan Juric left Southampton following a 3-1 loss at Tottenham Hotspur, the team revealed on Monday, one day following the confirmation of the side’s Premier League demotion.

Appointed in December following Southampton’s dismal start to the season, former Croatia international Juric failed to turn things around as the team suffered the earliest relegation in Premier League history with seven matches remaining.

“We can confirm that we have agreed to terminate his tenure at the club with our men’s first team manager, Ivan Juric,” Southampton said in a statement.

“Ivan arrived in Southampton during a trying period and was assigned to try to raise a team under challenging circumstances. Regretfully, performances have not advanced the way we had hoped.

“But we would want to thank Ivan and his team for their honesty and hard work as they battled the odds to try and keep us up.”

Southampton sits lowest of the standings with 10 points, thus Juric won only two of his 16 matches in charge in all competitions and acquired four points in the league.

Southampton stated first team coach Simon Rusk will cover as temporary manager. After Russell Martin was sacked on December 15 following a 5-0 thrashing by Spurs at home, Rusk had also been the caretaker manager.

Appointed on an 18-month contract, Juric told Sunday reporters he was prepared to assist the club in returning to the top flight if at all possible.

“It’s really good to be a Premier League coach; if I took the long route to come back here, I’m ready,” he remarked.

“then I have to see with the club, with the ideas, with everything, and what they think, what I think and whether we might or cannot accomplish it.”