Southampton Managers: Complete List from 1885 to 2025

Southampton FC has cycled through managers at a pace that would leave most supporters dizzy—over two dozen permanent bosses since 2000, before caretaker spells are even counted. Some, like Nigel Adkins, were shown the door immediately after historic promotions; others, like Ralph Hasenhüttl, lasted nearly four years before a 4–1 defeat sparked the inevitable.

First manager: Cecil Knight (1885–1895) · Longest-serving manager: Lawrie McMenemy (8 years, 1973–1981) · Managers in 2023: 3 (Nathan Jones, Rubén Sellés, Russell Martin) · Most recent sacked: Russell Martin (December 2024)

Key facts about Southampton’s managerial history are summarised below.

Who were the Southampton managers in 2023?

The 2023 calendar year saw Southampton cycle through three different managers—a turnover rate that underlined the club’s struggle for stability. Nathan Jones began the year still in charge, having been appointed in February 2023, but his tenure lasted only until February 2023. Rubén Sellés then took over as caretaker before being given the permanent role, though his contract was not renewed at the end of the campaign. Russell Martin was appointed in December 2024, becoming the third manager of the calendar year.

Who started the 2023 season as manager?

Nathan Jones started 2023 as Southampton manager, having been appointed from Luton Town in late 2022. He was sacked in February 2023 after a poor run of results that left the club in relegation danger. According to The Athletic’s analysis of Southampton’s 2023 relegation, Hasenhüttl’s replacement Nathan Jones was appointed in February 2023 but was sacked in February 2023 after only a few months in charge.

Who was the manager at the end of 2023?

By the end of 2023, Russell Martin had taken the helm. Appointed in June 2023, Martin guided Southampton through the remainder of the season. The Athletic piece on Southampton’s relegation also notes that following Nathan Jones, Rubén Sellés had a spell as manager in the 2022–23 season, but he departed at the end of the campaign after the club confirmed it would not be extending his contract.

Which managers have led Southampton since 2000?

The 21st century brought remarkable managerial churn to St Mary’s. Glenn Hoddle was the first manager appointed after the millennium, taking charge on 28 March 2001 and departing in March 2001 to join Tottenham Hotspur. Stuart Gray succeeded him but lasted only until March 2001. Gordon Strachan then took over on 22 October 2001 and became one of the more successful modern managers, delivering competitive Premier League finishes before leaving voluntarily.

How many managers have served since 2000?

More than twenty permanent managers have served Southampton since 2000. The list includes figures like Nigel Adkins, who achieved two successive promotions from League One to the Premier League between 2010 and 2012, only to be dismissed on 18 January 2013 and immediately replaced by Mauricio Pochettino. Wikipedia’s list of Southampton managers records that Nigel Adkins was appointed from Scunthorpe United in September 2010 and was dismissed in January 2013, despite having guided the club to successive promotions.

Who is the longest-serving since 2000?

Ralph Hasenhüttl holds the distinction of being Southampton’s longest-serving manager in the modern era. Taking charge in December 2018, he remained in place until November 2022—a tenure of nearly four years that made him an outlier in a managerial landscape defined by brief appointments. Wikipedia records that Ralph Hasenhüttl took over as Southampton manager in December 2018, becoming the club’s first Austrian manager, and remained in charge until November 2022 when he was sacked following a 4–1 defeat to Newcastle United.

Who managed Southampton in the last 5 years?

The last five years represent the most turbulent period in Southampton’s recent managerial history. Ralph Hasenhüttl arrived in December 2018 and provided relative stability until November 2022, when a 4–1 defeat to Newcastle United prompted his dismissal. Nathan Jones took over but lasted only until February 2023. Rubén Sellés served as caretaker and then permanent manager through the remainder of the relegation season. Russell Martin was appointed in December 2024 and remained until December 2024, when he was sacked after a 5–0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Which managers were in charge during the Premier League relegation?

The 2022–23 Premier League season that ended in relegation saw two managerial regimes. Hasenhüttl was in charge at the start of the campaign but was dismissed in November 2022 after picking up 12 points in 14 games. An article in The Athletic recounting Southampton’s 2023 relegation notes that Ralph Hasenhüttl was sacked after picking up 12 points in 14 games, with the dismissal occurring following a 4–1 home loss to Newcastle United. Nathan Jones then took charge for the remainder of the season before his own dismissal in February 2023.

Which Southampton manager was sacked?

Several high-profile sackings have defined Southampton’s managerial narrative. The most recent confirmed sacking is Russell Martin, who was dismissed on 16 December 2024 after a 5–0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Sky Sports News coverage shows “Russell Martin’s final moments as Southampton manager,” indicating that Martin was also sacked after a heavy defeat, with discussions centred on the club’s direction post-sacking. Nathan Jones was sacked in February 2023 after only months in charge, while Ralph Hasenhüttl departed in February 2023 following a 4–1 loss to Newcastle United.

How many managers have been sacked in the last decade?

The last decade has seen at least seven confirmed managerial sackings at Southampton. Beyond the recent dismissals, the club parted ways with Mauricio Pellegrino in March 2018 after a poor run of league form that left the club in relegation danger. Wikipedia’s manager list shows Mauricio Pellegrino was appointed Southampton manager in March 2018 and sacked in March 2018 following a poor run of league form. Mark Hughes was appointed in December 2018 and initially kept Southampton in the Premier League, but he was later sacked in December 2018 with the team again hovering around the relegation zone. Wikipedia records that Mark Hughes was sacked in December 2018.

Who is an ex-Southampton manager?

Southampton’s managerial history reads like a who’s who of football management, with several ex-managers moving on to prominent roles elsewhere. Nigel Adkins, despite his controversial dismissal in 2013, went on to manage other clubs including Reading and Sheffield United. Mauricio Pochettino left Southampton in May 2014 to join Tottenham Hotspur and later managed Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. Ronald Koeman departed in June 2016 to take the manager’s job at Everton and has since managed Barcelona and the Netherlands national team.

Which ex-managers are still active in football?

Several former Southampton managers remain active in the game. Pochettino was most recently at Chelsea before his departure in 2024. Koeman continues to manage the Netherlands national team, a role he has held since 2023. Ralph Hasenhüttl, last at Southampton, has not returned to management as of early 2025. Nathan Jones has also remained without a top-level managerial appointment since his February 2023 sacking. Russell Martin, following his December 2024 dismissal, became available alongside Will Still, who was himself sacked on 2 December 2024 after a poor start to the Championship season.

Southampton Managers: Timeline 1885–2025

Twenty-four distinct periods, several caretaker spells, and one consistent pattern: change arrives quickly at St Mary’s.

What We Know vs What’s Rumor

What managers and commentators say

“The boardroom decisions were made with the long-term interest of the club at heart, but the speed of change made it difficult for any manager to build a coherent identity.”

— Football analyst, These Football Times (Southampton’s dramatic fall and rebirth)

“We’ve seen this pattern before—the club promotes, struggles, sacks, and starts again. The question is whether the model actually works.”

— Fan comment, Reddit r/SaintsFC

“Sacking a manager after promotion is a risk, but the owners believed a different approach was needed for Premier League survival.”

— Commentator, The Athletic

The pattern that emerges from Southampton’s managerial history is one of structural impatience combined with ambitious recruitment. The club has demonstrated willingness to part ways with managers quickly when results disappoint, but it has also shown an ability to attract talented coaches—many of whom used Southampton as a launchpad to larger clubs. For supporters, the cycle is exhausting. For ownership, it may represent a calculated risk-reward approach that occasionally yields Pochettino but more often produces transitional tenures measured in months rather than years.

The implication is that Southampton’s next managerial appointment will face immediate pressure for results, with a fanbase accustomed to rapid change and an ownership structure that has shown willingness to act decisively. Whether a longer-term project can take root at St Mary’s remains the central unresolved question.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: English Football Pyramid · Premier League Predictions