Five years ago this week, Southampton replaced the sacked Nigel Adkins with Mauricio Pochettino, much to the disbelief of stunned Saints supporters. Adkins was a hero at St Mary’s, having led the club from League One up to the Premier League, but while his side had stuttered on their return to the top-flight, in the weeks leading up to his departure results had vastly improved.
Pochettino, formerly of Espanyol, ventured over to the south coast best known for his foul on Michael Owen at the 2002 World Cup, but Southampton’s then chairman Nicola Cortese assured flummoxed fans that their new boss was the real deal:
"Mauricio (Pochettino) is a well-respected coach of substantial quality who has gained a reputation as an astute tactician and excellent man manager.
"I have every confidence that he will inspire our talented squad of players to perform at the highest possible level."
How true Cortese's words proved to be as the Argentine went on to transform the club’s playing style to a high-intensity approach, he unearthed future stars from the academy, and propelled the likes of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, and Morgan Schneiderlin to new heights.
Within three months Pochettino had orchestrated staggering wins over Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea, before saving the Saints from relegation (14th). Come the following May Pochettino had led his troops to their (then) highest-ever points tally and joint-best finish (8th), but his achievements inevitably caught the eye of a top club in Tottenham, and he’s since gone on to elevate himself into the top bracket of managers in the world.
Fast-forward to Sunday and the former Saints boss could well hammer down the final nail in the coffin of the club’s current incumbent: Mauricio Pellegrino. His compatriot and fellow former Argentina international has come in for ferocious criticism following a torrid 10 game winless run, with the relegation-threatened club's last league victory stretching all the way back to November.
- 4 wins in 23 PL matches
- Not won since November (5D 5L)
- Luck against him (VAR)
- Questionable tactics
- Odds-on favourite for the sack
#SaintsFC
Pellegrino was lambasted for the way Saints played in the second-half of last week’s 2-2 at Watford - they were leading 2-0 at the break - while Lady Luck was also against him with the Hornets' last-gasp goal a blatant handball.
The St Mary's exit door is now wide open with bookmakers installing the maligned manager as the odds-on favourite for the sack.
Pellegrino's final Saints game could now well come against the very man who recommended him the job.
The duo have already locked horns this season. Only last month Pochettino’s Spurs spanked sorry Saints 5-2 on Boxing Day. On his last visit to St Mary’s Pochettino oversaw a comprehensive 4-1 victory - it was the first time that the hosts had leaked in four goals in a home league game in 16 years. In fact, he’s accumulated seven points from three unbeaten visits since moving to North London.
Should Pochettino propel that tally to 10 points from four trips to his former stomping ground then his opposing number, Pellegrino, will surely be swallowed up by the Sack Race.
