Southampton have appointed under-21s coach Tonda Eckert as their permanent manager on a contract until 2027, the Championship club announced on Friday.
The 32-year-old German has transformed the team's form since taking over as interim coach last month following the dismissal of Will Still, securing four wins in five matches.
“I think that we’ve had a great start and now it is up to us to continue,” said Eckert. “We go all in; there is no other way. I don’t shy away from saying that we want to play for promotion.”
Technical director Johannes Spors praised Eckert’s “empathy for the playing group and the clarity with which he communicates his ideas”, which he said have been central to the team’s improvement.
Eckert, who has never worked as a first-team manager before, previously served as assistant manager at Barnsley and Genoa. Southampton are 14th in the table with 24 points from 18 matches, five points off the playoff places, and host eighth-placed Birmingham on Saturday.
