Southampton have proven the appointment of Claude Puel as their new manager, following Ronald Koeman's departure to Everton earlier this month.
The Frenchman has signed a three yr contract with Saints, and can start work in his new function instantly. Puel comes in with a stellar reputation having guided fine to fourth position in French Ligue 1 final season, and he will be working alongside Eric Black, who has been appointed Assistant First staff manager.
Pascal Plancque will come to be the membership’s First team Assistant educate, while Dave Watson has signed a new handle the club and Sammy Lee has parted ways.
Saints government Director of football Les Reed mentioned: “The process to appoint a new First group supervisor has been diligent and meticulous. In order to be certain we appointed a supervisor who would meet our wants as a membership, suggestions from the dressing room, as well as taking account of our tradition, imaginative and prescient and values, was central in drawing up our standards for the appointment.
“because the procedure eliminated a quantity of first-rate candidates, Claude obviously got here out on prime of an awfully impressive shortlist. We've got now not most effective acquired the pleasant man, but the proper teaching team to aid him.
“Eric Black has an best pedigree as a coach and huge expertise domestically and internationally. Pascal Plancque has an exceptional report as a technical coach and, like Claude, has been liable for constructing many young French abilities into top nice gamers.
“The progress of our younger Academy gamers and delivering a pathway to the first group is essential to the function. We have been eager to nominate a coaching team who would also work closely with Martin Hunter and Radhi Jaïdi in accelerating the development of our youngsters, as good as setting up our current first-staff squad as participants and as a crew.
“we have an pleasant crew of first-staff avid gamers who're keen to take one other step ahead. There may be already a self assurance and excitement in the constructing as some of the squad has lower back for trying out and they are in nice shape.
“Claude has a outstanding platform to work from and is mindful that our ambition is to repeat and beef up on our performances in the most effective League during the last three seasons.
“Claude has a monitor report of improving the instances he has been offered with and we're constructive he can repeat this at Southampton.
“His Champions League and European experience will be useful in our Europa League task this coming season and with the support of our nice employees at the membership i am sure he will do good.
“we are once once more fascinated with what the new season will carry, and we will proceed to chase files as we've got executed in up to date years.”