Southampton have sacked Ralph Hasenhuttl after almost four years in charge of the St Mary's club.
The Saints have made the decision to part ways with the 55-year-old after a torrid start to the season which has seen them win just three of their 14 Premier League games. A dismal defeat at home by Newcastle on Sunday - during which there were loud boos from fans - left them in the relegation zone and prompted club chiefs to act.
A statement from the club read: " Southampton Football Club can confirm it has parted company with Men’s First Team Manager Ralph Hasenhüttl. First Team Assistant Coach Richard Kitzbichler has also today left the club.
"Hasenhüttl, who was appointed in December 2018, departs having made a significant contribution to the club, overseeing some memorable results and also playing a key role in the development of our club infrastructure, identity and playing squad.
"However, we now believe it is an appropriate time to make a change. Everyone involved with the club would like to express their sincere thanks to Ralph for all of his efforts, as well as the unwavering commitment he has shown throughout his time as manager.
"First Team Lead Coach Rubén Sellés will take charge of the side on an interim basis for our game on Wednesday night. The club will be announcing a permanent replacement in due course."
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Southampton's Serbian owners have decided to make a change in the management for the first time since they took over in January. Dragan Solak, founder of United Group, has invested a chunk of his fortune in a controlling stake in the Saints, with the takeover estimated to be in the region of £100million.
Solak remains a strategic adviser to United Group but has now teamed up with Rasmus Ankersen and another Dane, London-based investor Henrik Kraft, to create a different kind of empire in football. His first major decision during his time at the club has been to sack Hasenhuttl following a disappointing run of results.
After taking over from Mark Hughes in December 2018, Hasenhuttl had the task of steering the Saints away from the relegation zone following a disastrous start to the season. His first win as Southampton's new manager came in his third game as they beat Arsenal 3-2 - ending the Gunners' 22-match unbeaten run in the process.
The Saints secured their Premier League status in April 2019 and ended up finishing 16th during the 2018/19 campaign. However, disaster struck when Southampton fell to a 9-0 defeat by Leicester - the joint-worst loss in top-flight history and worst on home soil. Hasenhuttl came out and apologised for the result but was given the club's backing to remain in his job.
They managed to recover from that horrendous result and Hasenhuttl was handed a new four-year deal in June 2020 for his efforts. Southampton ended the season on a seven-game unbeaten streak to finish in 11th place, their best finish in three seasons.
Southampton began the 2020/21 season strongly, briefly topping the Premier League table at the beginning of November. But Hasenhuttl's side suffered their second 9-0 defeat in just over a year after being hammered at Manchester United. Like their loss against Leicester, Hasenhuttl stayed in his job once again and was given the chance to redeem himself.
Last season, Saints finished in 15th but won just one of their final 12 Premier League matches - a 1-0 success over Arsenal. In that run, Southampton were thrashed against Brentford, Leicester, Villa and Chelsea, before failing to beat Leeds and Burnley.
