Ivan Juric is set to embark on a new chapter in his managerial career as he takes the helm at Southampton in the Premier League. The Croatian coach has mutually terminated his contract with Roma, paving the way for his move to the struggling English side.
Southampton currently find themselves in a precarious position, rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table with a mere 5 points from their first 16 matches. The Saints are 9 points adrift of safety, with Leicester City occupying the 17th spot on 14 points. The team’s recent form has been particularly concerning, suffering a 5-0 home defeat to Tottenham in the league and a 2-1 loss to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.
Juric, 49, brings a wealth of experience from his time in Italian football. Prior to his brief stint at Roma, he managed several clubs including Mantova, Crotone, Genoa, Verona, and Torino. As a player, Juric represented Hajduk Split, Sevilla, Albacete, Crotone, and Genoa.
The Croatian tactician’s tenure at Roma was short-lived. Appointed on September 18th to replace the dismissed Daniele De Rossi, Juric oversaw 12 matches, securing 4 victories, 3 draws, and 5 defeats. His time in the Italian capital came to an end on November 10th when he was replaced by Claudio Ranieri.
Juric’s immediate challenge will be to guide Southampton away from the relegation zone, starting with a crucial away fixture against 8th-placed Fulham this Sunday.
