Southampton’s new manager, Ivan Juric, says he plans to implement an aggressive style of play similar to death metal, his favourite genre of music. Juric, who watched Saints’ stalemate with Fulham from the stands on Sunday, started work on Monday after obtaining his visa.
Juric signed an 18-month contract, with a reported break clause next summer, to succeed Russell Martin. He held talks about replacing Ralph Hasenhüttl two years ago but Nathan Jones was appointed.
Juric’s first game will be at home to West Ham on Boxing Day. “When I was young I liked death metal music a lot and it’s something my style of football is a lot like,” said the former Roma manager. “It is a high-pressing style. Now [I’m] a little bit less [of a death metal fan], I’m a little bit soft now.”
He previously said he initially enjoyed the sounds of Metallica and Megadeth before moving on to bands such as Napalm Death, Obituary and Carcass. “I’m not a golf man, it’s not the game for me … I’m a little more aggressive,” he said on Monday. “Now it’s important to work hard and understand everything that has happened.”
Juric said he was not put off by the challenge at St Mary’s, with Saints bottom and eight points from safety after one win in 17 matches. No team have avoided relegation after losing 10 of their opening 12 matches.
Saints have six points from 17 matches, the same tally at this stage as the Derby County side that finished the 2007-08 season with a record low 11 points. “The guys have to be motivated to do something that has never been done,” Juric said. “We can do something exceptional. Nobody has stayed in the Premier League from this situation. There are a lot of good players, I’m really optimistic.”
The 49-year-old, who was sacked by Roma last month, has never managed in England but has always kept an eye on the league. “I was a great fan of [Marcelo] Bielsa when he was at Leeds. I like the way he thinks about football.”
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Asked what encouraged him from Saints’ draw at Craven Cottage, he replied: “It was the ideal mentality. They [the team] were solid. They didn’t create a lot but it was a competitive team. It was not easy to beat us. They [the players] don’t know me but I know them. I have told them that I believe in them.”
