SAINTS owners Sport Republic are willing to be flexible when it comes to a new manager but they want stability and a recognised style of play.
Former boss Russell Martin was given plenty of time to identify what was not working and fix it but they acted after the fans made their thoughts clear.
Although Southampton's owners desire a consistent philosophy, it does not mean the next boss must play it around the back with such obvious risk.
They will likely target someone with designs of dominating opponents but that can come in a variety of ways. They also do not want more change.
READ: Thanks for the memories, Russell: How Saints job unravelled for Martin
Their next appointment should have next season in mind, with Saints likely heading for the Championship regardless, rather than a short-term punt.
Here are some of the managers we believe they should consider...
Kasper Hjulmand
It's about time Rasmus Ankersen put those Danish connections to good use, right? Kasper Hjulmand has been out of work since the summer.
His last job in club management was with Nordsjaelland between 2015-2019, before he took over as Denmark manager and enjoyed some success.
Hjulmand led the Danes to the semi-finals of EURO 2020 before an extra-time defeat to England at Wembley - and finished second in their EURO 2024 group too.
The 2022 World Cup was not as good but he favours a possession-based style of play, with his Nordsjaelland side consistently among the highest-ranking.
Hjulmand, 52, is credited by many with being impressively adaptable in-game and his attacking wing backs are an exciting feature of his sides.
Hjulmand is probably the highest-profile manager on the list but he is yet to fully prove himself in club management and this could be a good step.
Danny Rohl
Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl is the most obvious candidate to take over as Saints boss and return to the club where he was briefly assistant.
German coach Rohl was Ralph Hasenhuttl's popular number two before he departed for roles with Bayern Munich and the German national team.
He is only 35 years old and his job at Hillsborough is his first as boss, having taken over with Wednesday bottom of the Championship in October 2023.
Rohl led them to a 20th-place finish, three points clear of the relegation zone, while they now sit ninth in the division after 21 games of his second season.
Rohl's playstyle with Wednesday has usually been to concede possession, boasting 44 per cent, in favour of a high-intensity, high press.
But he also has designs of playing with the ball, insisting: “I think when we look forward then we want to play great football."
Vasco Matos
Interesting manager to monitor:
— David (@undervalu) May 29, 2024
Vasco Matos
• Age: 43
• Nationality: Portugal
• UEFA B Licence
• Current club: @CD_SantaClara pic.twitter.com/0KrijYV3lo
An outside shout, if Saints prefer a non-domestic option, could see them looking to Portugal, where Santa Clara's boss Vasco Matos is enjoying success.
Former winger Matos, 44, took over The Azorians in the summer of 2023 and he led them to first place in the second division in his first season in charge.
In his second season, Santa Clara currently sit fourth in the Primera Liga, behind only Sporting, Porto and Benfica, having won nine of their 14 matches.
Matos has favoured a three-at-the-back system not dissimilar to new Man United manager Ruben Amorim and he likes his team to play out from defence.
Centre-backs will distribute the ball to the midfield or skip that phase entirely, heading straight for the wide players and overloading one side of the pitch.
And against the ball? Last season, Santa Clara conceded 19 goals in 34 matches. If Saints want a young coach with promise, Matos might be exactly that.
Kjetil Knutsen
Norwegian boss Kjetil Knutsen has been linked to Premier League clubs before but the rumour always was that he is not interested in a move.
He has been in charge of Bodo Glimt since 2018 and won the top division in his country in each of the last four seasons at the helm.
Considering they were just fresh out of the second division when he joined as an assistant in 2017, it is not bad going for the 56 year old.
Bodo Glimt have become regular competitors in UEFA competitions under Knutsen, reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League in 2022.
Knutsen is credited with a simple but aggressive style of play, usually operating in 4-3-3 with plenty of width and a mission to squeeze the pitch.
But he was a front-runner to replace Graham Potter at Brighton and has never seemed desperate to make his first move from Norway.
Mark Robins
If Saints are to look for a British coach, Mark Robins might not be the most glamourous appointment but he would be practically easy.
The 54 year old is out of work since he was sacked by Coventry City last month, while the Sky Blues went on to replace him with Frank Lampard.
Robins took over in March 2017 with the side destined for relegation to League Two but collected the EFL Trophy, promotion to League One and the League One title by 2020.
In 2022/23, Coventry were a kick away from the Premier League as they lost the Championship play-off final at Wembley before reaching the FA Cup semi-final a year later.
His side came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Man United, before they lost again on penalties under the famous arch.
Robins would not be a glamourous appointment but knows the Championship and his Saints side would surely be contenders at the top end of the table.
Carlos Corberan
Similarly to Robins, appointing West Brom boss Carlos Corberan would be another with an immediate view to next season rather than this.
Saints faced and were too good the 41 year old's Baggies side in the Championship play-off semi-finals last season, having beaten them twice in the league.
Formerly assistant of Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United, Corberan had also taken Huddersfield Town to the Championship play-off final in 2022.
West Brom usually have more of the ball under Corberan and their build-up is characterised by calm and precise passing with constant rotation.
His style is said to be fairly wing-heavy and although the Baggies have only lost three Championship matches this season, they have drawn 11 of 21.
The Hawthorns side will surely be right up there again but, like Martin himself, Saints could give Corberan a chance to get over the line for the first time.
Honourable mentions
Graham Potter is the most obvious candidate if he would be willing to take the job but that feels unlikely simply given the previous posts he has turned down.
David Moyes would be an expensive high-risk/high-reward short-term option until the end of the season but Sport Republic want stability.
Stuttgart's Sebastian Hoeness would be great but feels like an appointment you make for the Europa League, not the Championship.
Croatian Ivan Juric has been linked with Saints in the past and is currently unemployed after a spell lasting just two months at Roma.
Lee Carsley plays attacking football and is popular after his England stint while Frenchman Julien Stephan is out of work after his Rennes sacking.
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