Welcome, Claude Puel!

As I am very fickle, despite having never heard of him before he was linked, I’m very pleased with this appointment! Lots of good write ups lately and seems like he has a good ethos and style of play, and I like that he generally stays at clubs for longer than we’re currently used to.

The names he has worked with before are nice, but that players like Henry cite him as a huge influence speaks a lot. Hopefully some of our players feel the same way when he goes to Arsenal in a few seasons! Developing players like Cabaye, Hazard and Ben Arfa shows a good eye for player developement and there are lots of players in our academy and first team that hopefully he can help make the step up.

I’m very pleased the board took so long appointing him, as it means they were being cautious, thoughtful and thorough with their search. While fans on Twitter, SW and here were growing impatient, they were going about their business meticulously and making sure they got the right man for the job. Here’s hoping they did!

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Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Claude Puel as its new First Team Manager.

The 54 year-old, who has agreed a three-year contract with Saints, takes charge ahead of the first team’s return to training on 1st July.

The appointment of Puel follows an extensive search for the right manager to continue the club’s progression in recent years.

Puel will be joined at Southampton by Eric Black, who has been appointed Assistant First Team Manager, and Pascal Plancque, who will become the club’s First Team Assistant Coach.

Dave Watson has signed a new deal with the club to remain as part of Puel’s backroom staff, while Sammy Lee has departed. The club would like to thank Sammy for his efforts during his time at St Mary’s.

Frenchman Puel makes the switch to the Premier League following a successful spell with OGC Nice in France, in which he guided Les Aiglons to a fourth-placed finish last season in Ligue 1.

Puel, who spent his entire playing career with Monaco, making over 500 appearances in all competitions, moved into management with the club he had been with for 17 seasons as a player in 1999.

After guiding Monaco to the Ligue 1 title in 2000, he spent six seasons with Lille before joining Olympique Lyonnais in 2008. Puel helped Lyon to their first ever Champions League semi-final in 2010, then going on to spend four seasons with Nice before departing in the summer.

Executive Director of Football Les Reed said: “The process to appoint a new First Team Manager has been diligent and meticulous. In order to ensure we appointed a manager who would meet our needs as a club, feedback from the dressing room, as well as taking account of our culture, vision and values, was critical in drawing up our criteria for the appointment.

“As the process eliminated a number of excellent candidates, Claude clearly came out on top of a very impressive shortlist. We have not only got the best man, but the right coaching team to support him.

“Eric Black has an excellent pedigree as a coach and vast experience domestically and internationally. Pascal Plancque has an excellent record as a technical coach and, like Claude, has been responsible for developing many young French talents into top quality players.

“The development of our young Academy players and delivering a pathway to the first team is key to the role. We were keen to appoint a coaching team who would also work closely with Martin Hunter and Radhi Jaïdi in accelerating the development of our youngsters, as well as developing our current first-team squad as individuals and as a team.

“We have an excellent group of first-team players who are keen to take another step forward. There is already a confidence and excitement in the building as some of the squad has returned for testing and they are in great shape.

“Claude has a fantastic platform to work from and is aware that our ambition is to repeat and improve on our performances in the Premier League over the past three seasons.

“Claude has a track record of improving the situations he has been presented with and we are confident he can repeat this at Southampton.

“His Champions League and European experience will be valuable in our Europa League challenge this coming season and with the support of our excellent staff at the club I am sure he will do well.

“We are once again excited about what the new season will bring, and we will continue to chase records as we have done in recent years.”

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Here’s a link to the Saints “5 Things You Didn’t Know About Puel”, which is much better than the 30+ the Daily Echo pulled together…

During his time in France, Puel has handed senior debuts to a number of high-profile players. The likes of Eden Hazard, Eric Abidal, Hugo Lloris, Yohan Cabaye and Alexandre Lacazette have all benefited from Puel’s willingness to give youth a chance.

Bye bye Sammy Lee :cry:

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That’s Ronald, Erwin and Sammy replaced. We still need a replacement for Jan

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Good luck Claude

. Did anybody watch that first interview and either understand it or stay awake. Lucky half time is only 15 mins :grimacing:

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I think it’s fair enough to get rid of Sammy Lee. We can’t have a manager who has ‘poo’ in his name AND a coach who rhymes with ‘wee’. The tabloids would have too much fun.

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so much for brexit. Three vacancies for honest, hardworking English workers, are immediately filled by two frenchman and a Black. Same as it ever was.

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I think this guy has a certain je ne sais quoi - I hope Pelle stays so the ladies can see these two post-goal hugging on a regular basis. AND he’s not a fat ginger. Win-win.

There is a touch of Henry Winkler about him

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And to make it worse la Black is a Scot!!

Originally posted by @CB-Saint

There is a touch of Henry Winkler about him

I was trying to think who he reminded me of. I was thinking the short Driscoll brother from Only Fools And Horses, but you Might Be Right.

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Bienvenue Claude, bon la chance.

Nice played great football last season when I saw them on BT Sport. let’s hope he gets us going the same.

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welcome Claude! Excited and hopeful. My villa supporting mates are scathing about black though.

His managerial record doesn’t speak volumes but he has generally always been a number 2

harsh

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Sounds alright, let’s give him time.

There that’s long enough, sort it out Claude you fucking muppet!

And farewell Sammy, thanks mate, all the best.

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Pascal Plank is a funny clown name srs

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Is it Poo-el or Pool or neither and something French instead?