New era at Southampton: Croatian tactician Ivan Juric to coach Onuachu, Aribo and Ugochukwu

With a statement on their official website, Southampton have announced the appointment of Croatian football tactician Ivan Jurić as the new coach of the club.

The Split native takes over from Russell Martin, who was dismissed after a 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, a result that left them nine points adrift of Premier League safety. 

With previous spells at Mantova, Crotone, Verona, Torino and AS Roma, Southampton is the first club he will manage outside of Italian football.

A retired Croatian international, Ivan Jurić has put pen to paper on an eighteen-month contract.

Given that he has signed a contract for more than six months, it is believed he was brought in as a long-term solution, meaning he should remain on the Southampton bench even if they are relegated from the Premier League.

Ivan Jurić will be coaching Nigerian trio Paul Onuachu, Joe Aribo and Lesley Ugochukwu at Southampton.

Onuachu saw his first team opportunities limited under erstwhile coach Martin, leading to a loan spell at Turkish club Trabzonspor during the 2023-2024 campaign.

The lanky forward made just one start with Martin in charge at Southampton and appeared seven times as a substitute, failing to find the net.

Ugochukwu, who joined the Saints on loan from Chelsea during the summer transfer window, has made five starts in all competitions since arriving at St Mary's Stadium.

The France U21 international of Nigerian descent will be hoping for an improvement in his fortunes under the new manager, amid speculation linking him with a return to his parent club next month.

Aribo has been one of the few bright spots in what has been a dismal season for Southampton, scoring two goals in his last nine Premier League appearances.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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