Southampton unveil former Roma boss as new manager in bid to avoid relegation

Southampton have appointed Ivan Juric arsenic their caller head connected an 18-month deal.

The deal, taxable to last activity licence approval, sees the Croatian win the sacked Russell Martin pinch Saints bottommost of the Premier League.

Juric, 49, who has managed extensively successful Italy, told the charismatic Southampton website: “I’m very pleased.

“I deliberation it’s a really large situation but I’m very optimistic because I saw a squad that tin do better.

“It’s important to instantly beryllium connected pinch the fans. I want an fierce squad and I deliberation that fans of Southampton will for illustration that.

“I want america to beryllium much aggressive, to do overmuch much pressing and we person to beryllium speedy to alteration mentality because this is my thought of football.”

Former Croatia midfielder Juric began his managerial profession astatine Mantova earlier moving connected to Crotone, Genoa and Hellas Verona.

He led Torino to 3 mid-table finishes successful Serie A, forging a estimation for being successful complaint of defensively coagulated teams, earlier leaving them astatine the extremity of past season.

Juric replaced Daniele De Rossi arsenic Roma leader successful mid-September but lasted little than 2 months successful the Italian superior aft claiming only 4 wins from 12 games.

Southampton are 9 points from information up of their travel to Fulham connected Sunday, having won only erstwhile successful the Premier League this season.