After just one season in charge, Claude Puel has been sacked by Southampton.
The 55-year-old Puel steered Saints to a decent eighth-place finish in last season’s Premier League, as well as leading them to a League Cup final appearance, where they pushed eventual winners Manchester United all the way.
However, after winning only one of their last eight league games of the 2016/17 campaign, the Southampton board have decided to look elsewhere ahead of next season.
A statement on the club website read:
Southampton Football Club can today confirm that it has terminated the contract of Claude Puel with immediate effect.
Everyone at Southampton would like to express our thanks to Claude for his hard work and commitment this year.
The highlight of the season was a memorable day at Wembley in the EFL Cup Final, a day our fans will always treasure.
We wish Claude well for the future.
The search for a new management team is underway. We are confident that we will find the right fit in line with the long term vision of the club.
After spending four seasons with Nice, Puel replaced Ronald Koeman in 2016, after the Dutchman had led Southampton to a sixth-place finish in 2015/16.
However, eighth spot in the table and a League Cup final appearance doesn’t seem like that bad a return for a club like Southampton.
Surely Puel deserved another season in the Premier League, unless there were other issues involved in the decision?
The managerial merry-go-round spins ever faster.