Ivan Juric has left Southampton after Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham Hotspur confirmed the club’s Premier League relegation in record time. A relegation clause in Juric’s contract has reportedly been triggered, with first-team coach Simon Rusk set to step in as interim boss and Adam Lallana in line to act as his assistant.
The 49-year-old replaced Russell Martin on December 21 but has lasted just 108 days at the helm after losing 12 of his 14 Premier League matches. Southampton are rock bottom of the English top flight on just 10 points and are currently at risk of recording the competition’s lowest-ever tally. The Saints require two points from 21 to ensure they don’t enter the history books lower than or level with Derby County’s infamous 11-point haul in 2007/08.
Brennan Johnson’s brace and Mathys Tel’s stoppage-time penalty condemned Southampton to their 25th league defeat of the campaign.
It confirmed the club’s instant relegation back down to the Championship, having beaten Leeds United in last season’s play-off final.
Juric’s 108-day reign is the 11th-shortest in the Premier League era, and he has been etched into folklore for further unwanted achievements.
The four points Southampton accumulated across the Croat’s 14 Premier League outings give him the lowest points-per-game average of any manager to have overseen 10 or more games in history (0.24).
After Sunday’s fatal loss in north London, Juric spoke like a coach who was ready for the challenge to guide Southampton back to the big time next season.
“If we take the long road to come back here, I am ready,” he said on developing the club’s young players so that they are prepared for their next go at Premier League football.
“We have lots of young players, talented players. They are good but lack experience. There is a completely different physicality between us and other teams in the Premier League.
“The same thing happened to Leicester and Ipswich. The gap is huge, but from this moment, the players can grow up and improve and be ready for the Premier League. This is my idea.”
Juric appeared visibly moved by the support from Southampton’s travelling fans after the final whistle at Spurs.
Moments later, he urged his players to appreciate those who have stood by them throughout one of the worst Premier League campaigns on record.
He explained: “For me, this is something completely new, a new experience. I said to the players, they have to be really thankful that they have fans like this.
“It is something incredible the way they love their team even though we were relegated. They really deserve much more.
“It’s another type of culture [to Italy]. They show love in this moment; it is a great thing in English culture, Southampton culture.”
