Ralph Hasenhüttl Signs New Four-Year Contract at Southampton
By Tom Gott
Southampton have confirmed that manager Ralph Hasenhüttl has signed a new four-year contract at St Mary's Stadium.
Having spent the majority of the first half of the season floating around the relegation zone, a recent upturn in form helped carry Southampton up to 14th before football was postponed, and they were as high as ninth in February.
#SaintsFC is delighted to announce that Ralph Hasenhüttl has signed a new four-year contract at St Mary’s! ?
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) June 2, 2020
Talks were rumoured to have been taking place in April, but Southampton have now taken to their official website to confirm the agreement, as well as an extension for assistant Richard Kitzbichler.
"This, for me, was a simple decision," Hasenhüttl said. "Simple because of the relationship that I have built with the club, the players and the fans, and also because of the relationship they have built with me too.
"I said when I arrived at the club that we were at the beginning of a long journey, and also a journey that would bring emotion and hopefully enjoyment. We have already had some moments where we could celebrate together, and some that have been emotional and also challenging.
“The way we have handled this together as a group of people has been incredible for me, and I believe we now have strong foundations here that can allow us to take the next steps in our progress as a team.
“For me, this is an important step in the journey. My players, our staff, and of course the supporters must understand my commitment to this club and to what we are trying to build together. We value the same philosophies, and this is a big part of why I want to stay here, and I hope we can share in some very successful moments moving forward.”
Club officials have been hugely impressed with Hasenhüttl's dedication to turning things around at St Mary's. His commitment to helping the Saints reclaim their reputation as one of the best teams for young players has gone down well at board level.
The likes of Yan Valery and Michael Obafemi have blossomed into first-team regulars, and Hasenhüttl has been putting plans in place to try and keep the trend going.
He revealed to BBC Radio Solent that he has created the SFC Playbook, which he later explained to the Daily Echo was designed to help first-team players, academy stars and coaches continue their development.