Southampton have appointed Austrian Ralph Hasenhuttl as manager on a 2-1/2-year contract after firing Welshman Mark Hughes, the struggling Premier League club said in a statement on Wednesday.

The 51-year-old former RB Leipzig coach will take charge on Thursday, the day after Saints play Tottenham Hotspur in the league at Wembley.

Southampton sacked Hughes after a 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United last weekend left the south-coast club in the relegation zone with one win from 14 league matches.

Hasenhuttl guided newly-promoted Leipzig to second place in the Bundesliga in the 2016-17 season before leaving last May after a dispute over a new contract.

Former Austria forward will be Saints' fourth manager in two years with Claude Puel and Mauricio Pellegrino also being sacked since Ronald Koeman left for Everton in 2016.

"This manager change offers us a fresh start and, very quickly, Ralph emerged as our ideal candidate," Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger said in a statement.

"As a coach, he embodies the passion, structure, communication skill set, work ethic and appetite for growth that we strive for in our Southampton Way."

Saints Radar

Krueger said Hasenhuttl had been on Southampton's radar since he was at FC Ingolstadt and took the German side up to the Bundesliga for the first time in 2015.

"As soon as we met, Ralph’s enthusiasm for football was contagious and his hunger to take on a new and challenging job in the Premier League was evident," added Krueger.

"In our discussions, he very quickly aligned himself with the values and the vision of the club."

Southampton said he would be supported by existing first team assistant coach Kelvin Davis, head of goalkeeping Dave Watson and head of sports science Alek Gross.

The change of manager has been welcomed by many Southampton supporters who were frustrated at Hughes' inability to get the most from a talented squad.

The Welshman helped Saints narrowly avoid the drop last season by finishing 17th in the table, but this term they sit 18th in the standings after seven defeats.

Their only league win this season came against Crystal Palace in September and success-starved fans have seen Southampton win only one league match at home in the past 12 months -- a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in April.

Southampton have appointed Austrian Ralph Hasenhuttl as manager on a 2-1/2-year contract after firing Welshman Mark Hughes, the struggling Premier League club said in a statement on Wednesday.

Southampton have appointed Austrian Ralph Hasenhuttl as manager on a 2-1/2-year contract after firing Welshman Mark Hughes, the struggling Premier League club said in a statement on Wednesday. The 51-year-old former RB Leipzig coach will take charge on Thursday, the day after Saints play Tottenham Hotspur in the league at Wembley. Southampton sacked Hughes after a 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United last weekend left the south-coast club in the relegation zone with one win from 14 league matches. Hasenhuttl guided newly-promoted Leipzig to second place in the Bundesliga in the 2016-17 season before leaving last May after a dispute over a new contract. Former Austria forward will be Saints' fourth manager in two years with Claude Puel and Mauricio Pellegrino also being sacked since Ronald Koeman left for Everton in 2016. "This manager change offers us a fresh start and, very quickly, Ralph emerged as our ideal candidate," Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger said in a statement. "As a coach, he embodies the passion, structure, communication skill set, work ethic and appetite for growth that we strive for in our Southampton Way." Saints Radar Krueger said Hasenhuttl had been on Southampton's radar since he was at FC Ingolstadt and took the German side up to the Bundesliga for the first time in 2015. "As soon as we met, Ralph’s enthusiasm for football was contagious and his hunger to take on a new and challenging job in the Premier League was evident," added Krueger. "In our discussions, he very quickly aligned himself with the values and the vision of the club." Southampton said he would be supported by existing first team assistant coach Kelvin Davis, head of goalkeeping Dave Watson and head of sports science Alek Gross. The change of manager has been welcomed by many Southampton supporters who were frustrated at Hughes' inability to get the most from a talented squad. The Welshman helped Saints narrowly avoid the drop last season by finishing 17th in the table, but this term they sit 18th in the standings after seven defeats. Their only league win this season came against Crystal Palace in September and success-starved fans have seen Southampton win only one league match at home in the past 12 months -- a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in April.

Southampton appoint Ralph Hasenhuttl as new manager

Southampton have sacked Mark Hughes as manager on Monday with the Premier League club mired in the relegation zone with only one victory this season.

Hughes arrived at his former team in March on a short-term contract and helped the south coast club avoid relegation last season by securing a 17th place finish.

The Welshman was handed a three-year deal in May but has struggled to improve the team's form this campaign.

"Southampton&nbsp;Football&nbsp;Club can today confirm it has parted company with First Team Manager Mark Hughes," they said in a statement.

Southampton are 18th in the standings having lost seven out of their 14 matches and squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Manchester United on Saturday.

Their only victory this season came against Crystal Palace in September.

First team assistant coach Kelvin Davis will lead the team for Wednesday's match against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium.

Southampton said they had already begun the search for Hughes' successor.

Southampton have sacked Mark Hughes as manager on Monday with the Premier League club mired in the relegation zone with only one victory this season. Hughes arrived at his former team in March on a short-term contract and helped the south coast club avoid relegation last season by securing a 17th place finish.

Southampton have sacked Mark Hughes as manager on Monday with the Premier League club mired in the relegation zone with only one victory this season. Hughes arrived at his former team in March on a short-term contract and helped the south coast club avoid relegation last season by securing a 17th place finish. The Welshman was handed a three-year deal in May but has struggled to improve the team's form this campaign. "Southampton Football Club can today confirm it has parted company with First Team Manager Mark Hughes," they said in a statement. Southampton are 18th in the standings having lost seven out of their 14 matches and squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Manchester United on Saturday. Their only victory this season came against Crystal Palace in September. First team assistant coach Kelvin Davis will lead the team for Wednesday's match against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium. Southampton said they had already begun the search for Hughes' successor.

Southampton sack Mark Hughes as manager

The odds against Southampton avoiding relegation from the Premier League tumbled dramatically with Everton's last-gasp equaliser on Saturday but manager Mark Hughes remained defiant.

The Saints had drifted out to 3/1 with bookmaker William Hill when they seemed to be moving above four other teams at the bottom, as well as ensuring that West Bromwich Albion went down with Stoke City.

Now they face a crucial game on Tuesday away to Swansea City, who are only below them on goal difference, and the odds are just 7/4.

Hughes's team are two points behind Huddersfield Town, who have an away game against champions Manchester City on Sunday, and five points behind West Ham United, who should be safe after winning at Leicester City.

Hughes said that the draw Everton achieved with a goal in the fifth minute of added time felt like a defeat.

"We clearly haven't got what we deserved today," he told.

"I'm really upset with the officials. The referee has made a decision to give the free-kick in the corner. He allows it to be taken from a false position, then we're on the back foot, and we're down to 10 men too because of a decision he made.

"We have got something out of the game though and we are out of the bottom three. We have a massive game coming up against Swansea and that will probably determine who stays up and who goes down."

Hughes said that the draw Everton achieved with a goal in the fifth minute of added time felt like a defeat

The odds against Southampton avoiding relegation from the Premier League tumbled dramatically with Everton's last-gasp equaliser on Saturday but manager Mark Hughes remained defiant. The Saints had drifted out to 3/1 with bookmaker William Hill when they seemed to be moving above four other teams at the bottom, as well as ensuring that West Bromwich Albion went down with Stoke City. Now they face a crucial game on Tuesday away to Swansea City, who are only below them on goal difference, and the odds are just 7/4. Hughes's team are two points behind Huddersfield Town, who have an away game against champions Manchester City on Sunday, and five points behind West Ham United, who should be safe after winning at Leicester City. Hughes said that the draw Everton achieved with a goal in the fifth minute of added time felt like a defeat. "We clearly haven't got what we deserved today," he told. "I'm really upset with the officials. The referee has made a decision to give the free-kick in the corner. He allows it to be taken from a false position, then we're on the back foot, and we're down to 10 men too because of a decision he made. "We have got something out of the game though and we are out of the bottom three. We have a massive game coming up against Swansea and that will probably determine who stays up and who goes down."

Mark Hughes defiant as Southampton take late blow

Mark Hughes enjoyed the ideal start to his Southampton reign as the struggling Premier League club reached the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win at Wigan on Sunday.

Hughes was hired as Southampton manager this week to replace the sacked Mauricio Pellegrino and the former Saints striker had an immediate impact on his new team.

Hughes&#39; main goal is to help Southampton preserve their top-flight status and they dropped into the relegation zone on Saturday as Crystal Palace won in the league while the Saints were preparing for their quarter-final.&nbsp;

Nevertheless, a trip to Wembley in the semi-finals could provide a welcome tonic as the new manager tries to make his presence felt.&nbsp;

It was essential Southampton avoided following in the footsteps of Manchester City, West Ham and Bournemouth -- top-flight sides who had all perished against third-tier giant-killers Wigan in the FA Cup this season.

They achieved that aim thanks to second-half goals from Pierre Emile Hojbjerg and Cedric Soares.

Southampton joined Tottenham and Manchester United in the semi-finals, with Leicester and Chelsea meeting in the last quarter-final later on Sunday.

It will be Saints&#39; first appearance in the last four in 15 years.

&quot;It was an important day for the players today. I have been really impressed with the quality of the talent I have,&quot; said Hughes, who was sacked by Stoke earlier this season.

&quot;They have lost a bit of confidence recently but they are good players.&nbsp;

&quot;We stood up to Wigan. It was a statement of intent and a start.&nbsp;

&quot;We have work to do in the Premier League, but we will enjoy this moment.&quot;

After a scrappy first half, Southampton took the lead in the 62nd minute.

Dusan Tadic&#39;s corner was stabbed goalwards by Hojbjerg and Wigan&#39;s Dan Burn couldn&#39;t react quick enough to clear off the line.

Manolo Gabbiadini had a chance to double Southampton&#39;s advantage in the 73rd minute when he got past Burn and the Wigan centre-back brought him down in the penalty area.

But Wigan goalkeeper Christian Walton plunged to his left and pushed Gabbiadini&#39;s powerful spot-kick around the post.

Wigan, FA Cup winners in 2013, applied plenty of pressure in the closing stages, but couldn&#39;t emulate their epic fifth round success against Premier League leaders City.

In the first minute of stoppage-time, Southampton right-back Soares surged into the area before side-footing past Walton.

&nbsp;

Hughes was hired as Southampton manager this week to replace the sacked Mauricio Pellegrino and the former Saints striker had an immediate impact on his new team

Mark Hughes enjoyed the ideal start to his Southampton reign as the struggling Premier League club reached the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win at Wigan on Sunday. Hughes was hired as Southampton manager this week to replace the sacked Mauricio Pellegrino and the former Saints striker had an immediate impact on his new team. Hughes' main goal is to help Southampton preserve their top-flight status and they dropped into the relegation zone on Saturday as Crystal Palace won in the league while the Saints were preparing for their quarter-final. Nevertheless, a trip to Wembley in the semi-finals could provide a welcome tonic as the new manager tries to make his presence felt. It was essential Southampton avoided following in the footsteps of Manchester City, West Ham and Bournemouth -- top-flight sides who had all perished against third-tier giant-killers Wigan in the FA Cup this season. They achieved that aim thanks to second-half goals from Pierre Emile Hojbjerg and Cedric Soares. Southampton joined Tottenham and Manchester United in the semi-finals, with Leicester and Chelsea meeting in the last quarter-final later on Sunday. It will be Saints' first appearance in the last four in 15 years. "It was an important day for the players today. I have been really impressed with the quality of the talent I have," said Hughes, who was sacked by Stoke earlier this season. "They have lost a bit of confidence recently but they are good players. "We stood up to Wigan. It was a statement of intent and a start. "We have work to do in the Premier League, but we will enjoy this moment." After a scrappy first half, Southampton took the lead in the 62nd minute. Dusan Tadic's corner was stabbed goalwards by Hojbjerg and Wigan's Dan Burn couldn't react quick enough to clear off the line. Manolo Gabbiadini had a chance to double Southampton's advantage in the 73rd minute when he got past Burn and the Wigan centre-back brought him down in the penalty area. But Wigan goalkeeper Christian Walton plunged to his left and pushed Gabbiadini's powerful spot-kick around the post. Wigan, FA Cup winners in 2013, applied plenty of pressure in the closing stages, but couldn't emulate their epic fifth round success against Premier League leaders City. In the first minute of stoppage-time, Southampton right-back Soares surged into the area before side-footing past Walton.

Mark Hughes marks shining start as Southampton reach FA Cup semis

mark-hughes

Mark Hughes, News on Mark Hughes, stories on Mark Hughes, articles on Mark Hughes, Mark Hughes stories at Wion, Mark Hughes news, Mark Hughes latest news

mark hughes

Southampton appoint Ralph Hasenhuttl as new manager

Southampton sack Mark Hughes as manager

Mark Hughes defiant as Southampton take late blow

Mark Hughes marks shining start as Southampton reach FA Cup semis