Why Southampton FC are looking at ex-Hull City and Derby County boss Liam Rosenior | OneFootball

Southampton are on the hunt for a new manager - Liam Rosenior could be the ideal candidate

Southampton FC are on the lookout for a new manager following the sacking of Ivan Juric – with their next boss tasked with taking Saints back to the Premier League.

Saints have sacked two permanent managers this season after enduring a woeful campaign back in the top flight, setting a Premier League record for earliest relegation after just 31 games.

As such, Southampton are gearing up for life back in the EFL, hoping to replicate their one-year stint following their last Premier League relegation in 2023.

Back then Saints turned to Russell Martin to lead them instantly back to the Premier League – but perhaps this time they will ask Liam Rosenior to return top-flight football to St. Mary’s, with talkSPORT linking the former Derby and Hull boss.

Liam Rosenior appointment would allow Southampton to establish strong identity

In a bid to avoid Premier League relegation, Saints veered away from the ideals and style of Russell Martin, instead turning to the pragmatism of Ivan Juric.

That has clearly not paid off for Southampton, with Juric winning just one game in 14 Premier League matches.

As such, Southampton now hope to reset and install a new club identity, with Liam Rosenior viewed as an ideal candidate.

Just like Martin, Rosenior has both experience of the Championship and proof that he can implement his style of play to a successful standard in the second division.

Rosenior has also proved he is able to instill his ideas into a new team despite a language barrier, with RC Strasbourg flying high in Ligue 1.

Despite being well-respected by the fanbase at Hull City, Rosenior was sacked as Tigers boss at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, having narrowly missed out on a play-off spot.

Hull City owner Acun Ilicali suggested that the sacking was primarily based on a difference of footballing philosophy, suggesting that Rosenior’s possession-based style was not attacking enough.

However, a similar approach was key to Southampton’s success under Martin the season before last, indicating that Rosenior and Southampton could be a good match.

Recently installed technical director Johannes Spors' comments further suggest that Rosenior fits the bill for Southampton's next manager.

Appointing Liam Rosenior would be statement of intent from Southampton

Aside from Rosenior being a good fit for Southampton, there is also an element of showmanship.

Rosenior is working wonders in his debut season out in France, although Strasbourg are well-resourced thanks to their owners, BlueCo, who also own Chelsea.

Extracting Rosenior from a club doing well in one of Europe’s top leagues and potentially playing European football next season would be extremely difficult, but it would send a very strong message – to both the rest of the Championship, and Southampton’s fanbase.

Saints’ owners, Sport Republic, have come under a lot of fire from the St. Mary’s faithful, following two relegations during their tenure.

Prior to their takeover in 2022, Saints had spent an uninterrupted decade in the Premier League.

But in Sport Republic’s first full season, Southampton found themselves relegated.

After a four-way battle for promotion in the Championship, Saints limped over the line with a play-off win over Leeds United at Wembley.

But less than a year later, Saints find themselves back in the second tier – with fans believing that the owners had not properly invested into the playing squad in order to avoid relegation.

By installing Rosenior as manager, not only would Southampton re-establish a sense of identity and playing style, but they would demonstrate to fans that they are willing to spend serious money in order to become Premier League regulars once more.