Southampton F.C: Glory Once Again

Southampton F.C is a club I have admired since I was young. The Saints have constantly went through hard times, but they also experienced the pleasure of achieving something. Back in 1976, Southampton beat Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup Final, thanks to a late Bobby Stokes goal. Seven years later, Southampton finished second in the First Division (Barclays Premier League), only three points away from champions Liverpool F.C.

However, in the 2004-2005 season, Southampton suffered relegation after a disappointing season under Harry Redknapp, who won only six matches, drew 14, and lost 18. Redknapp resigned from his position in early December, and returned to managing Southampton’s rivals, Portsmouth F.C.

Things got worse for the Saints as they got further relegated to League One in 2009. The club was unable to pay for their staff’s wages and was on the verge of bankruptcy. Anyway, in late 2010, Nigel Adkins, the man who I consider Southampton’s savior, gained back to back promotions and finally brought us back to the Premier League.

Adkins’ reign had come to an end after a disappointing first half of the season, where Southampton found their selves three points away from relegation. Mauricio Pochettino took control and saw the team’s results improve until they finished in 14th place.


Pochettino left Southampton after spending 18 months with the club. Mauricio went on to manage Tottenham, signing a five-year contract. Pochettino expressed his delight at signing with the Lilywhites while speaking to the club’s official website, saying:

“This is a Club with tremendous history and prestige and I am honoured to have been given this opportunity to be its Head Coach. There is an abundance of top-class talent at the Club and I am looking forward to starting work with the squad.

Tottenham Hotspur has a huge following across the world and I have great admiration for the passion the fans show for this team. We are determined to give the supporters the kind of attacking football and success that we are all looking to achieve.”


I will take on the role of current manager, Ronald Koeman. Koeman’s latest spell was with Eredivisie giants Feyenoord, a spell which lasted three years. During his career he won two European Cup titles, five Dutch championships, three Dutch Cups, four Spanish championships, one Spanish Cup and he was also in the winning Dutch national team at the UEFA Euro 1988.

I acknowledge that managing Southampton will be extremely tough, especially after key players such as Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, and Dejan Lovren, as well as young stars Luke Shaw and Callum Chambers have left the club. I took the challenge anyway. As time passes, I'm confident I will win the Premier League for the first time in Southampton's history.

Tremendous start, I love it!

Great start, keep up the good work i will be following.

Griffo Thanks mate
JK Thanks

A great start. Long may it continue!

Today, Ronald Koeman was officially presented as the new Southampton F.C boss. Koeman signed a three-year deal with the Saints. His brother, Erwin Koeman, who left his coaching role at Dutch club RKC Waalwijk, has also joined Southampton as assistant manager, while Jan Kluitberg will serve as first-team assistant coach/physical coach. Koeman arrives following a three-year spell at Feyenoord, which he led to consecutive top-three finishes in the Eridivisie. He replaces Mauricio Pochettino, who left to join Premier League rival Tottenham. A press conference was held shortly after Koeman signed his contract, and Sky Sports has brought the full conference for those who missed it.


Paul Angew [Sky Sports]: Why did you specifically choose to manage Southampton?

Koeman: Southampton have an extremely talented first-team squad as well as an academy that has produced several stars around the world, most notably Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, and many more. There are still many players in the academy that will develop into great players. For example, you have Ryan Seager and Matt Targett. I will hand several academy players many first-team opportunities. I felt Southampton was the right club for me because I share the same philosophy of football, and the same belief in how to develop the club. The opportunity to continue the development of this famous football club was simply too good to turn down. I cannot wait to get started.

Richard Robertson [The Daily Mail]: Are you confident you can lead Southampton to success even after selling various key players?

Koeman: I understand that several players have been sold, but if you look at the players we bought, you’ll see that we have brought quality players to replace the players that have left. Graziano Pellè brings a lot of experience to the squad. He is strong, knows how to score, and his heading ability is amazing. Shane Long is a great striker as well. Dejan Lovren was an amazing defender but I have no doubt that Florin Gardos will do Lovren’s job and more. Ryan Bertrand is another young left-back who came on loan from Chelsea to replace Luke Shaw’s role at the club. Other than that, things are fine.

Richard Robertson [The Daily Mail]: What about Morgan Schneiderlin? We understand Tottenham Hotspur has made a bid. Was it rejected?

Koeman: Yes, Tottenham have offered €18m for Schneiderlin’s services, but I have no intention of selling him. Schneiderlin is a major part of my plans for the upcoming season.

Aaron Wilkinson [BBC Sport]: Schneiderlin seems mad about now allowing him to speak with Tottenham, tweeting “6 years of an amazing journey destroyed in 1 hour”. Your thoughts?

Koeman: I know how it feels. I know how angry he is. I’m sure however that he’ll drop this and continue playing for this club because he knows exactly what Southampton has done for him when he was young.

Roy Carter [The Guardian]: Reports have been linking you with Benfica center back Lisandro Ezequiel López, is it true?

Koeman: These rumors are completely false. I already have four center backs at my disposal, I will not be adding to them.

Roy Carter [The Guardian]: Will you be looking to bring in a backup for full-back Nathaniel Clyne?

Koeman: I am indeed looking for another right-back. I’m not willing to reveal my targets in a press conference, though.

Alan Futcher [The Daily Mirror]: You currently have three goalkeepers in your squad. Which one will be the starter?

Koeman: I still haven’t decided. I will take my decision after all pre-season games are played.

The young Brazilian star has agreed a £89,000 per week, four-year deal after sealing a £27.5m move which eclipses the £15m Southampton paid Roma for Dani Osvaldo in late 2013. Danilo expressed with delight at his switch to Southampton when he spoke to The Sun after being presented at St. Mary’s, saying:

“I have had three very happy years at Porto but now is the right time to say goodbye. We've had some special times together and I've loved every minute of it. I am not sure there is ever a good time to leave a club where I felt settled and was playing the best football of my career to date. Porto will always be in my heart and I'm sure this season will be a successful one for them.

I am now looking forward to the next exciting chapter in my life, playing football for Southampton. I would like to thank everyone at the club; the chairman, board, staff, coaches and players, and, most of all, the fantastic fans, for the amazing experience they gave me.”

Danilo becomes the eighth player to arrive at St. Mary’s, after the arrival of Dušan Tadić, Graziano Pellè, Fraser Forster, Shane Long, Florin Gardoș, Ryan Bertrand, and Saphir Taïder.

On the same day, 22-year-old Argentinian goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga, joined Millwall on a season-long loan. Gazzaniga will look to prove his class at Millwall after being restricted to just 8 appearances last season as he struggled to break into Mauricio Pochettino’s first-team plans.

Gazzaniga came to St. Mary’s at the start of the 2012/2013 season from the Sky Bet League One club, Gillingham, for an undisclosed fee and was given his debut on 28 August, 2012, in a 4-1 victory against Stevenage in the second round of the League Cup.