Southampton Football Club announced on Monday that they have parted ways with manager Ivan Juric after the team’s relegation from the Premier League was sealed. The decision comes on the heels of a 3-1 loss to Tottenham on Sunday, a defeat that confirmed Southampton’s drop to the Championship with a record-breaking seven games still remaining in the season.
Juric’s tenure was marked by a dismal run, with the team—languishing at the bottom of the table—losing 25 of their 31 Premier League matches in a campaign to forget. This early relegation eclipses the previous unwanted record held by Derby County (2008) and Huddersfield Town (2019), both of whom went down with six games to spare. Having led Southampton to promotion via the Championship play-offs last season, the club now faces an abrupt return to the second tier.
Appointed in December to replace Russell Martin, Juric inherited a squad already mired in difficulties. However, the 49-year-old managed just one league victory—against Ipswich in February—during his stint. The Saints have stumbled in seven of their last eight top-flight outings, prompting the club to act. Simon Rusk will step in as interim manager for the season’s remainder, with former player Adam Lallana assisting.
In an official statement, Southampton said: “We can confirm that we have today reached an agreement with our men’s first-team manager, Ivan Juric, to end his spell at the club. Ivan joined Southampton at a challenging moment and faced the daunting task of turning around a struggling squad. Unfortunately, results did not improve as we had hoped. We thank Ivan and his staff for their dedication and effort in battling steep odds to keep us in the Premier League.”
Looking ahead, the club emphasized a shift in focus: “With relegation to the Championship now certain, we believe providing clarity to our fans, players, and staff is essential as we approach a critical summer. We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our fans, whose passion and commitment through this tough season have been extraordinary and are valued by all at the club. Despite the hurdles relegation presents, our aim is to rebuild pride in the team and club moving forward.”
