Southampton manager Ivan Juric has left the club by mutual consent after overseeing their earliest relegation in Premier League history.
The 49-year-old was hired in December to replace Russell Martin but managed just two wins in his 16 games in charge.
Sunday’s 3-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur sealed Southampton’s fate, leaving the Saints at the bottom of the table with only 10 points and eight matches remaining.
Juric’s short tenure—lasting only 107 days—is now the ninth-shortest managerial reign in Premier League history.
Southampton issued a statement thanking Juric for his effort in trying to stabilize a struggling squad. “Ivan came to Southampton at a tough time… we would like to thank him for his honesty and hard work as he fought against the odds.”
Simon Rusk is set to step in as interim manager, with former Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana acting as assistant. The club hopes to provide clarity for fans and players as they prepare for a crucial summer and their return to the Championship.
Southampton’s season has been plagued by difficulties from the outset. After earning promotion through last summer’s play-offs, the Saints struggled, losing eight of their opening nine games.
Juric arrived with the club nine points adrift of safety, but failed to close the gap, with the team conceding 74 goals—by far the league’s worst defensive record—and scoring just 23 goals in 31 matches.
Looking ahead, Southampton must now fight to avoid setting an unwanted record for the lowest points tally in Premier League history, which stands at 11 and was set by Derby County in the 2007-08 campaign.
