Next Southampton Manager: Contenders to replace Tonda Eckert

We take a look at the contenders to be the next permanent manager of Southampton after the club was thrown out of the Championship play-offs.

Southampton had been looking forward to the Championship play-off final against Hull City this weekend, but they have been expelled after admitting to spying on three clubs during the season.

One of those clubs was Middlesbrough and they will now take on Hull this weekend after being reinstated following their semi-final defeat to Southampton.

The Saints have also received a four-point deduction for next season and there is now growing uncertainty surrounding the future of manager Tonda Eckert.

Here are our top five contenders to be the next Southampton manager in the event that there is a change in the St Mary's dugout this summer.

Next Southampton Manager Contenders

Ralph Hasenhüttl

Popular former manager Ralph Hasenhüttl spent almost four years on the South Coast before being sacked in November 2022.

Southampton were struggling in the Premier League relegation zone at the time and he would be tasked with leading a Championship promotion charge if he was to return.

Hasenhüttl has been out of work since being sacked by Wolfsburg in May 2025 and he retains a deep affection for the club.

Scott Parker

Promotion specialist Scott Parker left Burnley following confirmation of their relegation back to the Championship.

He has never quite cracked it in the Premier League but he is a proven winner in the second-tier.

Parker would provide a safe pair of hands and the know-how when it comes to the 46-game slog that the Championship provides.

John Mousinho

He wouldn't, would he?

John Mousinho has done an excellent job at rivals Portsmouth after leading the club to promotion and keeping them in the Championship in the last two seasons.

He has been linked heavily with the vacant Bristol City position and an unnamed Championship club. It would cause quite a stir if Mousinho opted to follow in the footsteps of Harry Redknapp by crossing the divide.

Sean Dyche

Premier League firefighter Sean Dyche was sacked by Nottingham Forest after just 114 days in charge in February.

He did very little wrong in the East Midlands after stabilising the club following a tough start to the season.

A promotion battle might be just the tonic for Dyche who has become accustomed to arriving at clubs in perilous positions.

Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard will have the seen the job that Frank Lampard has done at Coventry City and possibly looked on with a touch of envy.

A Scottish Premiership title winner with Rangers, Gerrard did not enjoy the best of times when leaving to join Aston Villa.

He is keen to return to the dugout and a move to Southampton looks an attractive proposition for both parties.