Is Ivan Juric the right manager for Southampton?

Southampton have enjoyed a far from joyous return to the Premier League this season. The play-off final win against Leeds United in may seems like it was many years ago for Saints fans, as Russell Martin seems like a distant memory.

Southampton are rooted to the very bottom of the Premier League table, with just nine points and a thirteen point gap to safety. As far as everyone at Southampton is concerned, the club are once again preparing for the championship, with the hopes that they can bounce back once again.

Sport Republic took ownership of the club in January 2022, and since then there have been a flurry of decisions that have came under fire. Yes, there has been beneficial decisions, such as the hiring of Jason Wilcox as director of football. However, the ownership has also taken decisions that have guided the South Coast side to the championship. From the sacking of Ralph Hassenhuttl and then hiring Nathan Jones, before sacking Jones just a few months later and watching the club get relegated.

Fast forward to 2025, and the ownership have made a few more decisions which haven’t worked out. After the Saints’ poor start to the first season back in the Premier League, Russell Martin was sacked, and replaced by Croatian Ivan Juric, although some argue its too late.

Southampton’s Premier League record under Sport Republic’s ownership:

84 matches
13 wins
14 draws
57 defeats
78 goals scored
176 goals conceded
15.5% win percentage
53 points from a possible 252
2 relegations*#saintsfc pic.twitter.com/v9UAjpyOUR

— SaintsExtra (@SaintsExtra) February 25, 2025

Who is Ivan Juric?

Ivan Juric has previously managed in Italy, where he took Hellas Verona from relegation to back-to-back top half finishes in the Seria A, and also had three midtable seasons with Torino. He is known for his ‘aggressive’ style of football, being solid defensively and winning the ball high up the pitch and scoring on the counter.

Ivan Juric is set to be announced as the new #SaintsFC manager

His Stats at Torino 📈

✅ Wins: 45
🤝 Draws: 36
❌ Losses: 41
📊 Preferred Formation: 3421

Are you happy with our make or break appointment?

Certainly shows a desire to try and stay up IMO. pic.twitter.com/pF2cuGymoH

— Saints Statistics (@TheStatsSaint) December 21, 2024

Struggles continue

The football that Juric was promising was far from his predecessor Martin, who was focused on keeping the ball at all times. However, Juric has not got hold of Southampton’s defence just yet, as they have conceded 30 goals since Juric has arrived. Fans have been far from pleased with the ‘death metal’ football that was promised.

Southampton have regressed since Juric’s arrival, and the atmosphere around St Marys gets bleak week by week. Fans have nothing to shout about, and rarely hang around for the final whistle, having already seen their team usually be down and out by half time.

Southampton haven’t budged from the bottom of the Premier League table even with Juric taking over, and with their only win coming against fellow strugglers Ipswich, it is very difficult for Saints’ players and fans to be up for the fight and spot when their next win is coming.

Why hasn’t it worked?

For Southampton, it would be naïve if they were not already planning for next season. Russell Martin made it hard for whoever would come and replace him, as his players were suited to this possession football he implemented, and players who joined in the summer were wanted by Martin. The transfer window was all about believing in Martin and giving him the players he needed in hopes of surviving the first season in the top flight.

It wasn’t to be for Martin, and now it meant that Juric was left with a squad not strong enough and physical enough to cope with his demands of aggressive ‘death metal’ football. Juric and Martin are polar opposites, and as much as Juric hasn’t been able to turn things around, he cant solely be to blame for this demise.

Championship football

In the championship last time out, Southampton were one of the high flyers, going 25 games unbeaten with plenty of goals. Saints were a force to be reckoned with in the championship.

Why? Well the football by Russell Martin was something that could fit in with this side in the championship. Saints were now a championship side with some very high quality players, and therefore could dominate games against weaker sides with possession football. The championship places a much higher emphasis on the physicality of players, with there being less tactical orientation. However, Martin was wanting to flip this on its head, and outsmart other sides. The possession orientated style meant that other sides weren’t able to keep up with the quality of football that Southampton were playing, and other sides didn’t have the same quality to play the same way.

As previously discussed, Juric has a very opposing style to Martin, and is more focused on being a solid defensive side, and want to catch opponents on the counter. The way an Ivan Juric side operates is far more suited to teams who are more of a midtable side, as they wont have the same quality as teams at the top of the table, and therefore wont see as much of the ball against better sides. It may have seemed a perfect fit for the current state of Southampton right now, as they are the worst side in the league, but the narrative will change next season and Saints will be a top side.

So, is Juric the right man? Personally, Juric has struggled with the Saints, and its not all his fault, but he certainly hasn’t covered himself in glory. He came in to a squad low on morale, bottom of the table and onset to beat the lowest points record. It was far from ideal conditions for the Croatian.

Fans have already been unapproving of his football, believing that his aggressive style he promised hasn’t come to fruition. At times, its looked worse than it was under Martin, and there is no spirit or sole in this Southampton side. Juric has struggled to motivate his team, and players are just waiting for this season to end.

I think that both parties should agree that another fresh start is needed. Juric clearly hasn’t been able to get the best out of his players, whether that is down to him or not. There is much less tactical focus from Juric in his coaching, and this may not be suited to a Southampton side who will be nearer the top of the championship, hopefully.

Another fresh start could be good for the reds, as they can hire a younger and promising manager, and try and lay foundations for many years to come. Its easier to say this of course, as another new manager could just disorientate players and also fans within the club, as its hard to become attached to new managers with the fears they could be gone just a little while later.