MAURICIO Pellegrino could be set for a return to football management for the first time since getting sacked by Saints.

Spanish outfit Leganes have supposedly been in discussions with the 46-year-old boss.

The Argentine manager had led Saints to just one win in 17 league outings when he was dumped off and replaced by Mark Hughes after a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Newcastle in mid March.

Pellegrino’s first sortie into managing in England was, in all, near enough a disaster and it’s safe to say he won’t be returning to these shores soon.

However, the former Liverpool defender still commands a decent reputation in Spain, having led Alaves to the Copa del Rey final where they lost to Barcelona and a ninth-place finish in La Liga in 2016/17.

It was at Alaves that Pellegrino made his name and impressed enough to get the job at St Mary’s, which soon turned into a nightmare as the South American struggled to steer Saints away from the foot of the Premier League.

Having had a couple of months to cool off and probably enjoy some of the pay-off that Saints handed him on departure from St Mary’s, Pellegrino’s name is back in the frame for a management role.

Although he’d have likely spent time in his Argentina homeland during his jobless period, it has been said Pellegrino prefers another European job.

He had been linked with jobs in Argentina, where he has previously been in charge of Estudiantes and Independiente, but it’s La Liga outfit Leganes who are closest to signing up the former St Mary’s chief.

Spanish newspaper AS have reported Pellegrino has been included on a list of coaches that Leganes are keeping an eye on after manager Asier Garitano confirmed he’d leave the club.

AS added, Pellegrino ‘needs time to mull it over’ before taking the job.