Tonda Eckert will continue in charge of Southampton for their next Championship game, which is at home against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, according to Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas.
Southampton’s 32-year-old head coach got off to a winning start on Wednesday, defeating Queens Park Rangers 2-1 away and collecting the club’s first victory in six games.
While the club continues to evaluate potential applicants for the St Mary’s vacancy, Southampton are also said to be considering Eckert for the full-time role.
Saints hired the German as temporary manager following Will Still’s dismissal on Sunday, barely five months after signing the 33-year-old on a three-year contract.
The south coast club appears unlikely to rejoin with a familiar figure in the dugout, with both former managers Ralph Hasenhuttl and Russell Martin ruled out.
Southampton considers Eckert for a full-time role.
Thomas, writing on X, said Southampton are considering Eckert as a candidate for the permanent manager role at St Mary’s following his winning start on Wednesday.
The claim comes amid speculation that Southampton sporting director Johannes Spors is looking to Germany for his future management position on the south coast.
The 43-year-old is driving the Saints’ hunt for a new permanent manager and is said to be examining many possibilities following Martin’s departure, including former West Brom manager Tony Mowbray.
Southampton won just 13 Championship games under Still, drawing six and losing five, and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the third round after a 2-1 loss to Liverpool in September.
Saints were booed off after a 2-0 loss to Preston North End on Saturday, which was Still’s penultimate game in the dugout.
Eckert previously taught at the Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig schools before joining Southampton as Under-21s head coach in July. He has also spent the last three seasons with Serie A club Genoa.
During his stay in Italy, he worked for three different managers: Alberto Gilardino, Alexander Blessin, and Patrick Vieira.
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