'Incredible' manager told to make one Southampton demand, he's 'inspired by Barcelona' football

Today at 12:15 PM

What is there, realistically, for any manager to gain taking over a Southampton side who sacked Russell Martin after falling nine points adrift of safety in the Premier League table?

Survival, even at this early stage, feels, if not a miracle, than pretty improbable.

Southampton have held talks with Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl, according to reports. But while the chance to test himself amongst English football’s elite tacticians may appeal to the highly-rated German, a man right at the beginning of his managerial career may have understandable reservations about what a relegation from the Premier League may look like on his CV.

TBR understands that Southampton are keen on former Roma boss Ivan Juric too.

And while Juric has a terrific track record when it comes to building sides far greater than the sum of their parts – he secured five successive top-half Serie A finishes with Hellas Verona and Torino – even lifting Southampton above 18th may be a challenge beyond someone who’s reputation has already taken an almighty hit this term following a disastrous 12-game spell in charge of Roma.

But what of Kasper Hjulmand? TBR have been told that the one-time Denmark manager is a Saints target too.

Kasper Hjulmand sent warning about Southampton job

Hjulmand has been out of work since the summer. And a return to club football – half a decade after leaving Nordsjaelland – may have the 52-year-old champing at the bit.

Allan Kuhn, a former Danish Superliga stalwart, certainly feels that hiring a coach of Hjulmand’s talents would benefit Southampton.

But, looking at things from another perspective, does it really benefit Hjulmand?

“It would definitely make sense,” Kuhn, who led Malmo to the Swedish Allsvenskan title back in 2016, tells ViaPlay. “But it would also be worrying for me if he says yes.

In Rasmus Ankersen, the CEO of Sport Republic, Southampton have a Dane acting as CEO at St Mary’s.

Kuhn, however, feels that Hjulmand should be wary of joining forces with his compatriot unless an agreement can be struck stating that the former Mainz boss will remain at the helm in the event of a very likely relegation.

“[Hjulmand should] have an agreement with Rasmus Ankersen that it’s okay to get relegated from the Premier League and then build it up in the Championship,” Kuhn adds, having watched The Saints fall 5-0 down at home to Tottenham in Russell Martin’s last march.

“They are going to get relegated. I commentated on them on Sunday against Tottenham. The first-half they played there was one of the worst I’ve ever seen.

“So, I’m very afraid that this is a club that is 100 per cent certain to be relegated from the Premier League.”

Hjulmand ‘inspired’ by Ajax and Barcelona philosophies

Nothing is ever guaranteed, of course. And English football has seen it’s fair share of so-called ‘Great Escapes’ over the years.

Yet, with their confidence hitting rock bottom and their defence seemingly becoming more error-strewn by the week, this is perhaps a script that even John Sturges – director of that 1963 epic – may have been reluctant to take on.

Hjulmand is best known for leading Denmark to the semi-finals of the European Championships back in 2021. England only progressed to the decider against Italy thanks to a Harry Kane strike in extra-time.

Kasper Lorentzen, who played under Hjulmand at Nordsjaelland, believes that the Scandinavian’s outstanding man-management abilities are a key attribute, while highlighting a possession-based gameplan which should suit a squad put together by Martin.

Denmark icon Simon Kjaer, meanwhile, labelled Hjulmand’s remarkable handling of the heart-wrenching Christian Eriksen situation back in 2021 as ‘incredible’, per The Independent.

"I was at Brondby before, where [ex-Swansea City boss] Michael Laudrup was head coach. Kasper Hjulmand wanted to play in a similar way,” Lorentzen tells the Football Chronicle.

“The ball had to be with his team, lots of passing and lots of chances created. The idea was that best way to defend was to have the ball. We were inspired a lot by Ajax and Barcelona. The philosophy was to always work with the ball and control the game."