English Premiership
Southampton sack Adkins
2013-01-18 14:10
London - Premier League club Southampton fired manager Nigel Adkins on Friday, and hired Mauricio Pochettino in his place.
Adkins
lost his job despite presiding over an unexpected 2-2 draw at Chelsea
on Wednesday, which put the south-coast team three points above the
relegation zone.
"This decision
has been made with the long-term ambitions of Southampton Football Club
in mind," executive chairperson Nicola Cortese said.
After
arriving at Southampton in 2010, Adkins secured back-to-back promotions
to enable the club to return to the top division after a seven-year
absence.
Pochettino, who has
been out of work since leaving Spanish club Espanyol in November, will
take charge of Southampton for the first time against Everton on Monday.
"This
is the kind of opportunity that any coach would relish," the former
Argentina defender said. "Southampton is a club with great heritage, and
an even more exciting future. There is a clear vision to take the club
to a new era of sustained success in the Premier League, and beyond,
which I'm delighted to be part of."
Cortese expects the 40-year-old Pochettino to be able to lift the team up and away from the relegation zone.
"Mauricio
is a well-respected coach of substantial quality who has gained a
reputation as an astute tactician and excellent man manager," Cortese
said. "I have every confidence that he will inspire our talented squad
of players to perform at the highest possible level.
"He
also shares my belief that the most successful clubs are built by
nurturing young players through a development system that provides a
clear path to the first team."