Southampton FC’s owning group, Sport Republic, is faced with the all-too-familiar task of choosing yet another manager or head coach to take over at St Mary’s following Will Still’s sacking on Sunday evening.
When the 32-year-old was appointed, it appeared like Dragan Solak and other Saints officials would give Still plenty of time to oversee a much-needed rebuilding project on the South Coast.
However, the rot that began during a 12-point Premier League relegation campaign has continued in the early weeks of the Championship season, with Southampton currently in 21st place, having accumulated as many points after 13 games while winning only two.
Despite the club’s dire situation, the board is claimed to have pursued many high-profile names, including Frank Lampard, Mark Robins, a possible reunion with Russell Martin, and Brendan Rodgers, who is now unemployed following his resignation from Celtic.
Rodgers returned to Parkhead in 2023 after Ange Postecoglou left for Tottenham Hotspur, winning two more SPFL titles until leaving the club last week following a rough start to the domestic and European seasons for the Bhoys.
With that said, FLW has investigated THREE reasons why the 52-year-old may be drawn to the vacancy on England’s south coast…
Brendan Rodgers may eventually add another Championship promotion to his CV.
The Northern Irishman has not managed in the Championship in 14 years, but his most recent second-tier campaign with Swansea City was a huge success.
Rodgers took over in South Wales in the summer of 2010 as the Swans aimed to break into the play-off picture after placing seventh the previous season. He had previously worked with Watford and Reading.
He was able to propel a group with a good mix of youth and experience to the top of the Championship, competing for promotion alongside QPR, Norwich City, and fierce rivals Cardiff City.
Eventually, one of the most exciting seasons in Swansea history, led by Scott Sinclair’s 19 goals, culminated in a thrilling 4-2 victory over Reading at Wembley Stadium, with the aforementioned player scoring a hat-trick.
Ultimately, it was a day that set the way for seven consecutive years of top-flight football for the Swans and the beginning of an upward managerial trajectory for Rodgers, who went on to join Liverpool the following year.
If he took over at St Mary’s, there is a good probability a similar fate would follow.
Brendan Rodgers could get the most out of Southampton’s attacking possibilities.
During his time in charge, Rodgers has worked with a number of outstanding forward players, including Luis Suárez, Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy, and Kyogo Furuhashi.
On paper, Saints boast a frontline that would ordinarily be the envy of many divisional rivals, notably with Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer, the former having previously scored 24 goals and provided 12 assists during the club’s play-off-winning campaign in 2023/24.
However, the duo and Damion Downs have only scored five goals between them so far, and Ross Stewart is back on the treatment table.
Given his experience working with a high-energy system that allows the ball to be moved from back to front at a rapid pace, Saints could expect a much more prolific return from those names for the rest of the season if Rodgers is appointed, and one that could still propel them into play-off contention with the table still heavily congested.
Brendan Rodgers may wish to pull away from the top-level spotlight.
For so long, Rodgers has been under the severe pressure of managing in the Premier League or at Parkhead, each with its own set of demands.
As a result, he may wish to walk away from the spotlight and take on a new challenge, which is undoubtedly on the table at Southampton.
Of course, the South Coast is under pressure to succeed when comparing the club’s financial resources, present squad, and previous history to the vast majority of their Championship competitors. However, it is evident that supporters blame Sport Republic more than those in the dugout.
As a result, Rodgers would have immediate support from the fans, but the potential to become a cult icon at a club in desperate need of stability could come later.
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