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Southampton appoint Ralph Hasenhuttl as replacement for Mark Hughes

Southampton have confirmed the appointment of Ralph Hasenhuttl as their new manager.

Mark Hughes was dismissed following the 2-2 draw against Manchester United, which left the club in 18th place in the Premier League, and Hasenhuttl will officially begin the role on Thursday, the day after Southampton's clash at Tottenham.

Saints chairman Ralph Krueger said as the club announced the appointment of the former RB Leipzig boss that he felt the Austrian was the right fit to bring the club forward.

"The urgency to find a path back to our potential and to the results that we expect cannot be underestimated," Krueger said. "For that reason, we are extremely pleased that Ralph Hasenhuttl has agreed to become our new manager and do all he can to help guide us back on that path.

"This manager change offers us a fresh start and, very quickly, Ralph emerged as our ideal candidate. As a coach, he embodies the passion, structure, communication skill set, work ethic and appetite for growth that we strive for in our Southampton Way. The quick, smooth and seamless negotiation process underlines the character of the person that he is.

"We have been aware of Ralph since his days at FC Ingolstadt, where he showed the qualities that we believe we need at the club. He has since gone on to develop those attributes with a track-record of success in the Bundesliga and with a progressive and ambitious club in RB Leipzig.

"As soon as we met, Ralph's enthusiasm for football was contagious and his hunger to take on a new and challenging job in the Premier League was evident. In our discussions, he very quickly aligned himself with the values and the vision of the club.

"Southampton Football Club's past success was built on a clear identity. The foundation of this identity was a focus on developing players, whether from within our academy or after joining from other clubs. Ralph's ability to teach the game and to develop talent is evident in his past and is a centrepiece of why he is the perfect choice to be the new Saints manager."

The club confirmed former goalkeeper Kelvin Davies, who takes charge of the match at Spurs, will work as an assistant to Hasenhuttl, who led RB Leipzig to second place in the 2016-17 campaign -- their first season in Germany's top flight.

His first official match in charge of Southampton will be away to fellow strugglers Cardiff on Dec. 8 before welcoming Arsenal eight days later for his first home match.

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