Saints Stuff

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
Southampton announce Ruben Selles as Ralph Hasenhuttl's No 2
By Dan Sheldon

10 June 2022Updated 15:03 BST

0 Comments

You must log in or register to see images

Ruben Selles has joined Southampton as Ralph Hasenhuttl's new assistant manager.



Selles was Hasenhuttl's first choice to become his new No 2 with the 38-year-old coming in after the departures of Dave Watson, Kelvin Davis and Craig Fleming.



The Athletic understands Selles met Hasenhuttl in person before signing his deal.



Selles said on joining Southampton: “It’s exciting for me to work in one of the top teams in the Premier League, to work in the best league in the world in an amazing environment in Southampton, with the crowd in St Mary’s, with a big manager like Ralph, with a lot of good players, and to have in front of you the best teams and the best players in the world, so I’m looking forward to it.”



Selles was most recently employed as Copenhagen's assistant manager, where he helped the Danish club win their first league title in three years and qualify for the knockout stages of the UEFA Conference League.



He previously worked as a youth coach at Valencia and Villarreal.



The process to employ Selles was led by director of football operations Matt Crocker and chief executive Martin Semmens.

More coaching appointments are likely to follow Selles as Southampton continue their revamp to the coaching team this summer.



Elsewhere, experienced shot-stopper Willy Caballero — who arrived at the club last December — has been offered a new contract, while talks remain ongoing with long-term servant Shane Long.



(Photo: Getty Images)

What will Selles bring to Saints?
When Southampton decided to sack Craig Fleming, Dave Watson and Kelvin Davis — three members of Hasenhuttl’s coaching staff — last month, it was not done on a whim.



The club’s hierarchy were not impressed with how last season fizzled out — winning only one of their final 12 games — when it had promised so much.



Watson, Fleming and Davis all being axed in one fell swoop was not a knee-jerk reaction to that dismal end to 2021-22.



It formed part of a wider review and was just one of the many considerations given to how the club move forward under a new ownership group, and about creating the best possible environment to bring success.



Not since Danny Rohl left three years ago has Hasenhuttl had a legitimate assistant, with Richard Kitzbichler, Rohl’s de facto replacement, acting as more of an analyst.



Hasenhuttl needs someone with a fresh set of eyes, a different voice and a strong personality, someone who will not be afraid to disagree with him over tactics, team selection and everything else in between.
 
Long and Caballero being offered new contracts, are they taking the p*ss...!!

Surprised Walcott isn't being mooted for a 2 year extension as well <doh>
 
Imagine actually having talks about extending Shane Longs contract. Love him to bits, but it's time to go.
It was rumoured yesterday that Adam Armstrong might be going out on loan and people were asking if we were going to sign three strikers as a result

The obvious question is which striker would sign as a 4th choice? It is a similar problem that spurs have had with getting a backup for Harry Kane. Except no European football at all and much lower wages

So I’d expect the idea is to have Long and Che stay with replacements for Broja and Armstrong coming in - with one potentially a loan. So basically the same as last year

The key part will be whether Shane Long wishes to take a significant pay cut which I would assume it the only reason it isn’t already done - that we are not carrying on offering his current salary
 
Long and Caballero being offered new contracts, are they taking the p*ss...!!

Surprised Walcott isn't being mooted for a 2 year extension as well <doh>
Given their respective roles in the squad - number is striker and number 3 goalkeeper then it makes some degree of sense to me

Who could we get who would sign on for either of those roles given our level and pay structure?
 
It was rumoured yesterday that Adam Armstrong might be going out on loan and people were asking if we were going to sign three strikers as a result

The obvious question is which striker would sign as a 4th choice? It is a similar problem that spurs have had with getting a backup for Harry Kane. Except no European football at all and much lower wages

So I’d expect the idea is to have Long and Che stay with replacements for Broja and Armstrong coming in - with one potentially a loan. So basically the same as last year

The key part will be whether Shane Long wishes to take a significant pay cut which I would assume it the only reason it isn’t already done - that we are not carrying on offering his current salary
It wouldn't be a terrible idea if he was willing to accept a suitably low wage. Our 4th choice striker would rarely play so it makes sense not to spend much on them.

Ideally the 4th choice would be a youngster from the academy but it doesn't look like we have much coming through these days, at least not in recent years.
 
Given their respective roles in the squad - number is striker and number 3 goalkeeper then it makes some degree of sense to me

Who could we get who would sign on for either of those roles given our level and pay structure?
Long makes no sense at all TBH. Would rather see the kids get a chance. Caballero I get however.