Ralph Hasenhuttl: The Austrian has replaced Mark Hughes as Southampton manager
Ralph Hasenhuttl: The Austrian has replaced Mark Hughes as Southampton manager

Ralph Hasenhuttl has become Southampton boss - Who is he?


Southampton have appointed ex-RB Leipzig boss Ralph Hasenhuttl as their new manager, so let's take a look at what he's done in the game and who he is.

The Manager

The Austrian has made his name in German football, having formerly lead Bundesliga clubs Ingolstadt and Red Bull Leipzig to great success.

His stock is high after guiding Leipzig to a second-place finish in their first season in the Bundesliga, which in turn earned the club's first ever appearance in the Champions League last season.

That 2017/18 campaign ended with sixth place and his departure after failing to agree a new contract.


Ralph Hasenhuttl Managerial Record

Leipzig P 83 W 40 D 19 L 24

Ingolstadt P 95 W 36 D 34 L 25

Aalen P 93 W 36 D 28 L 29

Unterhaching P 88 W 40 D 20 L 24

Total P 359 W 153 D 101 L 105


Previously, Hasenhuttl build his reputation at Ingolstadt, firstly saving them from relegation in Bundesliga 2 in his first season before earning promotion as Champions the following campaign.

It was Ingolstadt's first ever promotion to German's elite league and they secured a comfortable mid-table finish, taking 11th place in the following campaign, but Hasenhuttl left after failing to agree a new contract - something of a running theme.

Hasenhuttl actually started his coaching career in much humbler surroundings at German third division outfit SpVgg Unterhaching. Here he progressed from youth team head coach, to assistant, to manager - all within a three-year period.

He earned 40 wins here before being dismissed in 2010 and moving to Aalen where he won 36 of his 93 games, which helped them to promotion to Bundesliga 2.

The Player

A centre forward, Hasenhuttl's playing career saw him compete in his home nation of Austria, as well as Belgium and Germany.

Austria Vienna brought great success for the striker, winning three successive Austrian Bundesliga titles in the 1990s and two domestic cups.

This was also his best goal-scoring spell, with 44 in 134 games, whereras the goals dried up in Belgium - just 12 in total from 27 appearances for KV Mechelen and 22 for Lierse SK.


Latest Sky Bet odds

  • Southampton to stay up: 2/7
  • Southampton to be relegated: 11/4
  • Southampton to finish in the top half: 14/1

A switch to Germany and FC Koln didn't inspire improvement with three in 41 and Hasenhuttl concluded his playing career with 14 in 57 for Bayern Munich II.

He also represented his country, which delivered a healthy strike-rate of three goals in his eight caps for Austria.

The Reputation

The 51 year old is highly regarded not just for his success but for his style of play and personality.

When he departed Red Bull Leipzig in May the then-sporting director Ralf Rangnick, who preceded and succeeded him in the dugout, described Hasenhuttl as "not just a very talented coach but also an incredible person."

Hasenhüttl’s employs a high energy and pressing style and his previous jobs demonstrate that he is happy to promote and trust youth players in his first-team plans.

Tactically astute and visibly supportive of his players, he will no doubt be compared to fellow Premier League managers Jurgen Klopp and David Wagner, who have made the same successful journey from the Bundesliga to English football.

Southampton will also see parallels in their previous appointments of Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman and will hope Hasenhüttl brings the same success.

With Mark Hughes leaving Saints in 18th position, without a win in 12 in all competitions and with a -14 goal difference, Hasenhüttl simply has to deliver quickly.

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