He was linked with the Saints manager’s job earlier this summer but Frank de Boer will be at St Mary’s after all this season – as boss of Inter Milan.

The Dutchman was reluctant to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Ronald Koeman but headed for the San Siro earlier this month when the chance to succeed Roberto Mancini came up.

Inter have the greatest European competition pedigree of any of the teams currently in the Europa League.

The three-time UEFA Cup winners won the Champions League under Jose Mourinho in 2010.

Famously, they sealed their greatest triumph since winning back-to-back European Cups in the mid-1960s by beating Barcelona in the semi-finals before defeating Bayern Munich in the final.

Daily Echo: Inter Milan’s Auto Nagatomo and Celtic’s Ryan Christie battle for the ball during the International Champions Cup match at Thomond Park, Limerick. 

Inter went on to complete the club’s first treble, by adding the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia.

But Mourinho left to join Real Madrid at the end of that season and the subsequent years have been relatively fallow.

Last season’s fourth place was Inter’s best since finishing runners-up behind their great rivals AC Milan in 2010/11 under the Brazilian legend Leonardo.

But Mancini, Inter’s longest-serving manager since the great Giovanni Trapattoni (1986-91), was sacked after his relationship with the club’s owners, Suning Holdings, broke down.

Inter made an inauspicious start to the Frank De Boer era, losing their first game 2-0 at Chievo on Sunday.

But they have a rising star in Mauro Icardi. The Argentine striker is Inter’s captain at just 23 and has scored 47 goals in 78 Serie A starts.

He plays alongside Brazil-born Italy international Eder, Graziano Pelle’s strike partner at the European Championships.

Daily Echo:

Eder scored the winner in the Azzurri’s final group game against Sweden but has only scored one goal in 14 appearances for Inter since being signed on loan from Sampdoria in January.

There is a plethora of internationals in the rest of the Inter side. Their back four last Sunday was made up of former Italy defender Andrea Ranocchia, who plays alongside Brazil international Miranda, with Danilo D’Ambrosio and the diminutive Japan star Yuto Nagatomo occupying the full-back positions.

Defensive midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia – capped five times by France – plays alongside Gary Medel, who knows what it is like to beat Saints.

The Chile star played in a 1-0 Premier League win at St Mary’s in April 2014, in one of his last games for Cardiff City before joining Inter for £9m.

He was joined in the Inter midfield against Chievo by two debutants; Argentina international Ever Banega having made the move from Sevilla and winger Antonio Candreva recently signed from Lazio.

Inter host Palermo tomorrow, while the next Milan derby is on November 20 – four days before Inter’s visit to St Mary’s.

The stadium

Daily Echo:

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (the San Siro)

WITH a capacity of 80,018, the San Siro is the biggest stadium in Italy.

It hosted its fourth European Cup final last season, won on penalties by Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid after a 1-1 draw, as well as six games at the 1990 World Cup, including the opening game between Argentina and Cameroon.

A project of former AC Milan president Piero Pirelli, it was opened in 1926 has been shared with Inter since 1945.

Its official name is the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza after the two-time World Cup winner (1934, 1938) who played for Inter Milan and briefly for Milan in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

Both clubs have looked into building new stadiums in recent years, but plans have fallen through.

Located in the west of Milan five kilometres from Milan’s city centre, it is easily reached by metro or tram.

The city

Daily Echo: The skyline of Milan

MILAN is a giant, cosmopolitan international city renowned for its rich history, culture, fashion and sporting prowess.

The metropolis of 1.3million people is the capital of Italy’s northern Lombardy region and is one of Europe’s biggest cities, famed as one of the most fashionable places in the world.

The former Imperial Roman capital has grown to become an industrial powerhouse and a global capital of fashion, design and entertainment.

The Milanese have a religious addiction to calcio (football) with a fierce rivalry between Inter Milan and AC Milan – with both teams boasting illustrious trophy cabinets.

The city is the home of the country’s stock exchange – but its rich history is evident in its world-leading range of ancient historic buildings, museums, theatres and shopping parades.

Its luxury boutiques are a favourite haunt of the celebrities and stars and include high value brands for city-based fashion houses Armani, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana.

There is a huge selection of art collections, unparalleled shopping and one of Europe’s biggest trade-fair complexes and vibrant nightlife.

One of the most breathtaking landmarks is Gothic cathedral, the Duomo, with a pearly white facade, adorned with 135 spires and 3,400 statues which have taken 600 years in the making.

It has some of the largest stained-glass windows in Christendom.

The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie houses Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper – a 5th Century mural depicts Jesus’s last meal with his disciples which takes pride of place in the refectory of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

La Scala opera house is considered by many to be one of the world’s most famous opera houses and has hosted leading lights such as Italy’s own Luciano Pavarotti.

The city is a shopper’s paradise with jewellers, bakers, carpenters and milliners (who derived their name from the city in the 16th Century) and a huge range of quality and choice on offer.

Top locations for browsing include the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping arcade with chic boutiques and luxury stores, plus Quadrilatero d’Oro and the retail arteries of Via Brera, Corso Magenta, Corso Vercelli and Corso Buenos Aires.

There are countless opportunities to enjoy the best of Lombard and Italian food in a range of restaurants and cafés and plenty of opportunities for wine tasting.

Sleeping in Milan can be pricey. Unless you’ve got money to burn, your best bet is one of the surprisingly luxurious bed and breakfasts.

But there are budget places to stay including the Euro Hotel near Porta Venezia – but its competitive prices mean that it is popular with groups and fills up fast during major events, meaning that people should book online for the best rates and deals.

Autumns are generally pleasant, with temperatures ranging between 10 and 20 °C (50 and 68 °F) but can be characterised by higher rainfall.

Those wanting to stay longer can also take an hour trip to Lake Como – to the north and surrounded by snowcapped mountains and picturesque Mediterranean villas.

Venice is two-and-a-half hours to the east.

How to get there

Daily Echo:

MILAN has three airports - but London Gatwick is the only airport flying into the main city airport Milan Linate.

EasyJet offers the round trip for £60 for those prepared take the return Friday morning flight at 6am.

A more sociable 10.30am departure time from Milan costs around £80.

Fans can also choose to travel from London Luton to Milan Malpensa airport for around £55 however the airport is located 50km from the city centre.

Flights to all Milan airports take approximately two hours.

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