Ralph Hasenhuttl, manager of Southampton, has been fired, and Nathan Jones, manager of Luton, has begun negotiations.
After the Saints’ 4-1 loss to Newcastle on Sunday, which put them in the relegation zone with six losses in nine games played in the top flight, Hasenhuttl leaves the club. Richard Kitzbichler, an assistant coach, has also left the team.
After taking over at St. Mary’s in December 2018, the Austrian was the manager with the fourth-longest tenure in the Premier League. After Steven Gerrard, Thomas Tuchel, Bruno Lage, and Scott Parker, he is the fifth Premier League manager to be fired this year.
Championship club Luton confirmed on Monday that they had given Southampton permission to talk to Jones.
A statement said: “We would like to place on record that the Premier League club have approached the board in the correct manner, for which we are grateful, and that the whole situation is extremely amicable with Southampton and with Nathan.”
First-team lead coach Rubén Sellés will take charge on an interim basis for Southampton’s Carabao Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday.
A Southampton statement read: “Hasenhuttl departs having made a significant contribution to the club, overseeing some memorable results and also playing a key role in the development of our club infrastructure, identity and playing squad.
“However, we now believe it is an appropriate time to make a change. Everyone involved with the club would like to express their sincere thanks to Ralph for all of his efforts, as well as the unwavering commitment he has shown throughout his time as manager.”
Southampton lost twice by the same score of 9-0 during his tenure at the club—first at home to Leicester in October 2019 and then at Manchester United in February 2021. Both losses occurred during a 16-month period.
However, Hasenhuttl was able to keep Saints in the Premier League by leading them to a 16th-place finish in his first season in charge, an 11th-place finish in 2019–20, and 15th-place finishes in his next two seasons.
