Latest news with #SimonRusk
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ex-Premier League midfielder predicts Saints to 'struggle' under Still
FORMER Premier League midfielder David Dunn has predicted Saints will struggle in the Championship under new boss Will Still. Dunn, a one-time England international, believes new Southampton boss Still faces a real challenge in charge of the recently relegated side. Advertisement Saints are currently the second-favourites to win promotion from the Championship, behind Ipswich, who won 10 points more than them in the Premier League last season. Speaking to OLGB, Dunn said: 'I watched him on Monday Night Football a couple of months ago. He came across well. I think he's done well in his previous job. Will Still cut his teeth in Belgium before making a new for himself in French football. (Image: Southampton FC) READ: Saints fans are right to be excited about Edwards following QPR loan "But again, English football is totally different. I think it's going to be a real challenge, if I'm being honest. Advertisement "He's got to get a real buy-in early doors from the group. I think it's going to be tough. I think Southampton could struggle.' Saints won just 12 points in the Premier League last season, cycling through two managers before appointing Simon Rusk in interim charge until the end of the season. Belgian-born Still has never worked in English senior football, but joins Saints after guiding Lens to an eighth-place finish last season, missing out on Europe by five points. The 32 year old, who has signed a three-year deal, has set out to win promotion in his first season at the club.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Will Still appointed as new Southampton manager
have announced that 32-year-old will take over as their new manager. He'll step in after Sunday's final Premier League match against Arsenal, replacing interim boss Simon Rusk. The Saints, already relegated, parted ways with Ivan Juri? in April after just 107 days in charge. Still, who was born in Belgium to English parents, left French side Lens last week, saying he wanted to be closer to his family back in England. He's signed a three-year deal with the club as they look to rebuild in the Championship.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rusk hopes Still 'encouraged' by Southampton display
Southampton interim head coach Simon Rusk hopes incoming boss Will Still was "encouraged" by their performance against Saints lost 2-1 but were able to get back on level terms after going behind. It took a late Martin Odegaard strike from outside the box to win the game for the second-placed Gunners. Still was announced as the new boss an hour before kick-off and was spotted watching on from the stands. "I would have like to have thought that he saw a team that, in spite of difficult circumstances, were committed," Rusk said after the game. "They were running for each other and wanted to have an element of dignity in terms of how the season ended. I hope that encouraged him." Rusk took over after Southampton parted ways with Ivan Juric, his departure announced once relegation to the Championship was confirmed. Still will step in as the new men's first-team manager and faces the task of trying to bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. "First of all, congratulation to Will on the appointment," Rusk added."I'm sure he's had to work very hard to get a job at a prestigious club such as Southampton. I haven't had chance to speak to him yet but I think it's good for everyone that we can now have some clarity."My focus has been on supporting the players and club in fairly unique circumstances. All along that came first and now that is done I will get some direction on what is next for me."
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stewart nets first Saints goal as Arsenal snatch late win at St Mary's
SAINTS ended the 2024/25 Premier League season with a positive performance but fell to a late 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at St Mary's. Saints were equal to second-place Gunners for most of a competitive clash but Kieran Tierney opened the scoring before the interval. Injury-stricken Scotland compatriot Ross Stewart rose highest to head his first Saints goal and first goal for any team since January 2023. However, Martin Odegaard crushed interim boss Simon Rusk's hopes of a third point in seven matches when he rifled in on the 87th minute. Saints finish the Premier League season bottom of the table with a dismal 12 points, but are able to put a more positive spin on the future. New manager Will Still watched the match from the stands, while academy youngsters started and came off the bench after their strong season. A 2-1 defeat to Arsenal draws the curtain on the Premier League season. Saints were decent today to be fair, but finish on 12 points and a record 30 defeats. Big summer ahead, let's hope they get it right. A lot of pieces now in place. #SaintsFC — Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) May 25, 2025 Rusk made five changes to his final Saints team but some were enforced, including the absence of Jack Stephens due to a fractured wrist. Tyler Dibling was also not in the squad with muscle tightness cited as the reason, while there was no farewell for departing Kyle Walker-Peters. Amongst those coming into the team were Charlie Taylor - who had not played since January - and 18 year old Jay Robinson for a first start. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta also made a raft of changes to his team, leaving Bukayo Saka on the bench with loanee Raheem Sterling preferred. There were 59 points between the two teams ahead of kick-off but Saints drew 4-4 with Liverpool on the final day of their last Premier League season. Final-day matches often provide a surprise, and Saints were on top for much of the first half, even feeling aggrieved at being denied a penalty kick. A powerful Mateus Fernandes shot appeared to strike the outward hand of Declan Rice but the referee and VAR agreed it did not constitute a foul. Stewart headed wide with a chance to score his first Saints goal, although St Mary's roared at the winning of a succession of corners. Ross Stewart off to a standing ovation after scoring his first Southampton goal. A lovely moment for him after a horrible few years. #SaintsFC — George Rees-Julian (@rees_julian) May 25, 2025 Aaron Ramsdale denied former Gunners teammate Gabriel Martinelli when his perfectly timed run saw him evade defence one-on-one. But Ramsdale was unable to prevent the goal scored by departing defender Tierney just before half-time, marking his final Arsenal appearance. An overlapping Ben White crossed low into the front post, where dreamer Tierney was in front of his man to sweep home in the 43rd minute. Saints, inspired by talented youngster Robinson, did not let that derail them and instead flew out of the traps to equalise within 11 minutes. Moments after the academy starlet won a dangerous free-kick, his trickery in the box earned Saints a corner that Stewart rose to score from. Fernandes whipped in the delivery and the Scottish striker cleverly headed backwards to send St Mary's into a frenzy over his first Saints goal. Yuki Suagwara, back in the starting team for the first time since March 15, cleared off the line to keep the scores level shortly after. Substitute Saka thought he had put his team in front when he turned in the loose ball from a Ramsdale save but the linesman's flag went up. But Saints were not offered the same reprieve when fellow substitute Martin Odegaard beat Will Smallbone and fired in from outside the area. The Norwegian's 87th-minute goal condemned Saints to a 30th Premier League loss; a record number of defeats in a league season. Saints: Ramsdale; Sugawara, Wood, Taylor, Welington; Downes, Ugochukwu (Kayi Sanda, 85), Fernandes; Kamaldeen (Archer, 78), Robinson (Smallbone, 78), Stewart (Onuachu, 69). Unused subs: McCarthy, Manning, Aribo, Bree, Moore. Arsenal: Raya; White, Kiwior, Tierney (Trossard, 63), Zinchenko (Lewis-Skelly, 69); Partey, Rice, Nwaneri (Odegaard, 74), Merino, Sterling (Saka, 63); Martinelli (Havertz, 69). Unused subs: Neto, Jorginho, Henry-Francis, Kabia. Referee: Darren Bond. VAR: Graham Scott.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Hopefully that's a good platform going into next season'
Southampton interim manager Simon Rusk, speaking to Match of the Day: "Out of the seven games I've had [as manager], there's been positives in there. We were really close to taking a point off the Premier League runners-up. We can be really proud of our overall display and hopefully that's a good platform going into next season."It was about supporting the players as best we can in the circumstances, some debuts in there, some good results, and it was nice for us to be competitive against such a good side today."On his future at the club following Will Still's appointment: "I've had no information on my future. My concentration was to support the players in delivering a game plan to get something out of these games. "It's good for everyone to have clarity on who the manager is going to be and I'm sure when the time is right, I'll get some clarity on my own future."
