Ivan Juric Sacked: Simon Rusk Takes Over as Interim Manager

Ivan Juric sacked as Southampton manager, Simon Rusk takes over as interim boss with Adam Lallana as assistant.

Southampton has parted ways with manager Ivan Juric following their record-breaking relegation from the Premier League. Juric took over the team in December, replacing Russell Martin, but unfortunately, his tenure was marked by a lack of progress. Despite his best efforts, the team earned only four points in 14 games, culminating in a 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, which sealed their fate.

We have today reached an agreement with our Men’s First Team Manager, Ivan Jurić, to end his spell at the club.

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) April 7, 2025

“We haven't seen performances progress the way we had hoped,” Southampton stated, “but we would like to thank Ivan and his staff for their honesty and hard work as they fought against the odds to try and keep us up.” The team's 10 points from 31 games this season set a record for the earliest relegation in Premier League history.

With relegation to the Championship now confirmed, Southampton believes it's essential to provide clarity on the future for fans, players, and staff as they head into a crucial summer. The club has appointed Simon Rusk as interim manager, assisted by Adam Lallana, and has begun the process of finding a new manager, led by group technical director Johannes Spors.

Simon Rusk, who previously led the team to a 0-0 draw against Fulham, has taken over as interim manager until the end of the season, with the assistance of Adam Lallana. This development comes as the club embarks on a search for a new permanent manager to lead the team back to the Premier League.

Simon Rusk has agreed to take charge of the team as Interim Manager for the remaining seven fixtures of the season, and will be assisted by Adam Lallana. pic.twitter.com/dEMM8Ub0uT

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) April 7, 2025

The search for a new manager is being led by Group Technical Director Johannes Spors, who will oversee the process of finding the right candidate to secure an immediate return to the Premier League. With the new management structure in place, the focus now shifts to the upcoming matches, starting with the home game against Aston Villa on Saturday, which will mark Rusk's first home game in charge.