Southampton have sacked manager Ivan Juric after the club suffered the quickest relegation of any Premier League side on record.
Saints were relegated with seven games to go after a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, with the 49-year-old losing 13 of his 16 games in charge of the side and winning just two. No top-flight side has been relegated with more games remaining in a season.
Juric’s win percentage of 12.5% was among the worst of all Southampton’s managers and the worst of all the side’s permanent managers, with several caretakers on 0%.
A statement by Southampton read: “Ivan came to Southampton at a tough time and was tasked with trying to improve a squad in a difficult situation. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen performances progress the way we had hoped, but we would like to thank Ivan and his staff for their honesty and hard work as they fought against the odds to try and keep us up.
“Despite the challenges that relegation will bring, our goal is to restore a sense of pride for them in their team and club once again.”
It is the second time Saints have sacked their manager this season after Russell Martin, who oversaw promotion from the Championship last season via the play-offs, was given the axe in December having secured only five points.
A defeat to Spurs was also the catalyst for Martin’s exit, after Southampton lost 5-0 to Ange Postecoglou’s side at St. Mary’s. Juric was appointed on an 18-month contract after Martin’s dismissal.
Speaking after relegation was confirmed, Juric told MOT2: “It's a difficult day, tough day but I see the fans, how they love their players and their team. It's something incredible. This experience has to serve to create something stronger than this.”
Southampton currently sit bottom of the table on ten points, 22 points off safety with only 21 points still available, with the loss to Spurs their 25th of the season.
Time is running out for the club to avoid another unwanted record, that of the worst Premier League campaign of all time. Derby County currently hold that record for their 2007-8 season, in which they achieved 11 points.
Saints’ two league wins so far came against Everton in November and at fellow strugglers Ipswich in February. Even if they surpass Derby’s points total, Southampton hold the top flight’s worst defensive record and have scored the fewest goals in the division.
Juric spent the majority of his managerial career in Italy before taking the job at Southampton, most recently with Roma, where he lasted only 53 days, getting the sack after 12 matches.
Simon Rusk, who briefly served as caretaker before Juric’s appointment, is to take charge as interim manager with Adam Lallana acting as his assistant.
