Ivan Juric has left Southampton after the club’s Premier League’s relegation was confirmed on Sunday, according to Sky Sports News.
The writing has been on the wall for a long time for the south coast club, but the Saints’ fate was sealed with their 3-1 away loss to Tottenham.
Their relegation in matchweek 31 meant they beat the record previously jointly held by Ipswich and Derby County, whose relegation was confirmed with six matches left to play in 1994-95 and 2007-08, respectively.
Juric, 49, who succeeded the sacked Russell Martin on an 18-month contract in December, was only in charge for 108 days at Southampton.
The Croatian manager, who guided the squad to just four points and one win from his 14 games in charge, leaves the club with the team at the bottom of the Premier League table – as they were when he arrived.
That single victory was over fellow strugglers Ipswich on 1 February.
Southampton have become the first team to be relegated from the league with seven games of a campaign remaining and are still a point short of equalling Derby’s record low 11-point haul from 2007-08.
Juric paid tribute to Southampton’s “incredible” fan base following defeat at Spurs before news of his departure emerged on Monday morning.
Having suffered relegation in 2023, Saints secured promotion at the first time of asking by beating Leeds in the final of last season’s Sky Bet Championship play-off final at Wembley.
The south coast club, who have since won just twice in the league, registered only five points from 16 games before sacking Martin in the wake of a humiliating 5-0 home defeat to Tottenham on December 15.
Saints’ other point this term came in a goalless draw at Fulham under caretaker boss Simon Rusk, a game former Genoa, Torino, and Roma coach Juric watched from the stands.
Southampton have been linked with a swoop for 35-year-old Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl, who previously worked at the club under former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.
With a further two points required to better Derby’s record low points tally, Saints’ miserable season continues on Saturday at home to high-flying Aston Villa.
They will then face West Ham, Fulham, Leicester, Manchester City, Everton, and Arsenal before dropping back into the second tier.
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