April 07, (THEWILL) – Southampton have terminated the contract of manager, Ivan Juric, following the team’s confirmed relegation from the English Premier League. The dismissal comes after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, which mathematically sealed their drop to the Championship with seven matches remaining in the 2024/2025 campaign.
The Saints’ relegation represents a notable statistical low point, occurring on matchday 31—the earliest any club has ever been relegated in EPL history. During his brief tenure, which began in December 2024, Juric oversaw just two victories in 14 matches, with the team recording 12 defeats under his management.
Southampton have appointed Simon Rusk to guide the team through their remaining fixtures. The interim manager will be supported by former Southampton midfielder, Adam Lallana, who will step back from his playing duties to focus on coaching responsibilities. The 36-year-old Lallana, who returned to St Mary’s last summer, has made 18 appearances this season.
Despite relegation being confirmed, Southampton still have significant motivation for their remaining matches as they aim to avoid setting other unwanted League records. The club currently sits on 10 points and needs two more from their final seven games to exceed Derby County’s record low of 11 points from the 2007/2008 season. Additionally, with 25 defeats already recorded, Southampton must avoid losing five more matches to stay below the current record of 29 losses in a single campaign.
The Southampton board have indicated that a permanent managerial appointment will be made during the summer, providing time for a thorough recruitment process as the club prepares for life in the Championship. The new manager will face the challenge of retaining players, rebuilding squad morale and implementing strategies for an immediate return to top-flight football in the 2026/2027 season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
