Despite winning a massive relegation six-pointer against Ipswich last weekend, it is safe to say that Ivan Juric's time at Southampton has been rather unhappy so far.
Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo got the goals in what turned out to be a desperately needed victory for the struggling South Coast side.
The win has done little to alleviate the pressure on Juric, however, as the Croatian manager has managed just one win in his eight Premier League matches, resulting in Saints remaining rock bottom of the table.
The club have accrued a meagre nine points from 24 fixtures, which had led to speculation that they may beat Derby County's record-low points total of 11.
The former Roma coach was appointed on an 18-month contract with the option to extend by two years in the summer of 2026, but with an impressive career managing in Italy's top flight, it seems unlikely that Juric would be content staying at St. Mary's if the club were to be relegated to the second tier.
Thus, the market has opened to a potential replacement for the 49-year-old, with former Wolves boss Gary O'Neil a tentative frontrunner to take over from the Croatian.
Southampton next manager: Current favourites
Gary O'Neil
With speculation around Juric's potential departure still very fresh, the two current favourites have been priced at a preliminary 20/1. Gary O'Neil, formerly head coach of both Wolves and Bournemouth, has been touted as one of the more likely options to take the helm at St. Mary's Stadium, having been dismissed from his role with the Wanderers in December 2024.
O'Neil's time at Molineux had started brightly, but became sour this season with the club sat in the relegation zone, having won just one of their opening 11 Premier League fixtures. An injury-time winner from Ipswich's Jack Taylor put the nail in the coffin of the Englishman's time at the club, as it allowed the Tractor Boys to take all the points from a relegation scrap.
Having also struggled in his first role at Bournemouth, presiding over just 37 games with the club and securing only 11 wins, the former West Ham midfielder may now be looking for a new challenge. If Southampton are relegated, then a less media-intensive environment in the second tier could be the key to O'Neil unlocking his full potential as a manager.
At 20/1, backing O'Neil now could provide a fantastic return, although nothing is set in stone with Juric still firmly targeting Premier League survival with Southampton.
John Eustace
At an equal 20/1, current Blackburn manager John Eustace has been singled out as an option for Saints. The Englishman has impressed in recent roles with Rovers and Birmingham City, with his current team sitting in sixth place and, therefore, in the play-off positions in the Championship. On a shoestring budget, Eustace has shown himself to be a shrewd tactician, getting the best out of previously unknown talents such as Yuki Ohashi.
The 45-year-old was dismissed from his role at Birmingham City in favour of Wayne Rooney, a disastrous decision which saw the Blues eventually relegated when Eustace had previously had them sat in sixth in October 2023.
If Southampton are relegated, it could be tough to tempt him away from Ewood Park, especially if the club begin to make consistent strides towards a return to the top flight. At 20/1 odds, Eustace could again provide fantastic value, but nothing is concrete at present.
David Wagner
An even more left-field pick, American manager David Wagner has been priced at 33/1. Most recently of Norwich City, the 53-year-old was dismissed in May 2024, after the team finished in sixth place, being comprehensively defeated in the play-offs 4-0 by Leeds United.
Wagner has been without a job since then, and so a return to management in the Championship could be fitting with Southampton. His most impressive stint arguably came with Huddersfield, with whom he managed 154 games, winning 53 times and averaging 1.23 points per game with a team that remarkably spent two seasons in the Premier League.
Targeting a return to the managerial hot seat, putting money behind Wagner at this early stage could turn out to be a risk that pays off for bettors, with the former Schalke coach priced as a 33/1 outsider.
Lifelong Ipswich Town supporter who recently graduated from Durham University in French and German. Have developed a passion for European football based on my links abroad and am an avid supporter of Werder Bremen and Auxerre. Joined the MFT team in October 2024 and looking to take my first steps into the world of football journalism.
