Soccer

Jesse Marsch agrees to succeed Nathan Jones as Southampton manager

American was sacked by fellow strugglers Leeds last week

Jesse Marsch has agreed to take over as manager of Southampton. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Ben Fisher
Tue Feb 14 2023 - 12:38

Jesse Marsch is primed to succeed Nathan Jones after agreeing to take charge of Southampton after another round of positive talks on Monday. The American is poised for a return to management little more than a week on from his sacking by fellow strugglers Leeds.

Southampton believe Marsch can galvanise the squad and expect him to implement a style similar to that of their former manager Ralph Hasenhüttl, who built a playbook for all of the club’s teams follow.

Southampton, who are bottom of the Premier League, sounded out Marsch last week and are understood to admire his high-pressing style. Marsch has worked across the Red Bull group at New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig, where Hasenhüttl, whom Jones replaced, spent two years in charge.

Jones was sacked after 14 games, with a run of seven defeats in eight Premier League matches leading to his exit three months into a three-and-a-half-year contract. The Welshman lasted 94 days, the shortest managerial tenure in Southampton’s history.

READ MORE

Rubén Sellés, who took interim charge for the second time this season after Jones’s departure on Sunday, was expected to lead Southampton at Chelsea on Saturday but Marsch could be appointed in time to take charge. Southampton visit Leeds the following Saturday. – Guardian

LATEST STORIES