Leipzig's Austrian head coach Ralph Hasenhuettl looks on during the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and TSG Hoffenheim in Leipzig, eastern Germany on April 21, 2018. (Photo by ROBERT MICHAEL / AFP) / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT + 49 69 650050 / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT + 49 69 650050 (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)ROBERT MICHAEL/Getty Images

Ralph Hasenhuttl Appointed Southampton Manager, Signs Deal to 2021

Rory MarsdenDec 5, 2018

Southampton confirmed the appointment of Ralph Hasenhuttl as their new manager on Wednesday.

The Austrian has penned a two-and-a-half-year deal at St Mary's that will keep him at the club until 2021, and he will begin the job on Thursday, per a Southampton statement:

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Hasenhuttl succeeds Mark Hughes as Saints manager after the Welshman was sacked on Monday following nine dismal months in charge:

The 51-year-old's previous work includes a successful spell at Ingolstadt, in which he engineered their first promotion to the Bundesliga, and a two-year tenure with RB Leipzig.

He enhanced his reputation hugely at Leipzig as he led the club to the UEFA Champions League via a second-place finish in the Bundesliga, and he departed after finishing sixth in 2017-18.

Hasenhuttl has a major job on his hands with Southampton as they have been floundering for some time and currently sit 18th in the Premier League.

His primary aim in the remainder of this season will be to save the club from relegation, but he is not just a firefighter:

Hasenhuttl is a highly respected, innovative manager who has a reputation for developing and improving young sides.

Saints will hope he progresses the team as Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman did only a few years ago before moving on to bigger Premier League clubs.