Simon Rusk, the manager of the Saints Under-21 team, has been named interim manager and will be in the dugout when the team plays Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
After Russell Martin was fired, Rusk was appointed interim head coach and will remain in that position until Sport Republic appoints a new manager.
With Southampton at the bottom of the table, the club’s managers made the decision to fire the 38-year-old.
Rusk only joined Staplewood’s youth coaching staff in the summer, thus he is still a relatively unknown name there. Simon Rusk is who?
The 42-year-old coach Simon Rusk is currently in charge of Southampton while the club’s management looks for Martin’s long-term replacement.
As a player, he made 205 appearances – the bulk of those coming in the National League with Crawley, York City, Northwich Victoria and Rushden & Diamonds.
Martin had developed a bond with Rusk prior to his departure from Saints on Sunday night.
The coaches work out of nearby offices, and the under-21 team practices on the field next to the senior squad.
Rusk assisted the senior coaches during Southampton’s 5-3 Carabao Cup triumph over Cardiff City in August. He will recognize a number of the players who have resigned to play for him in the Premier League 2 this season.
The temporary manager has collaborated with Joe Lumley, Jack Stephens, Ronnie Edwards, Nathan Wood, Ryan Manning, Juan Larios, Charlie Taylor, Ben Brereton Diaz, and Sam Amo-Ameyaw.
Where has he coached before?
Rusk arrived at Saints this summer having most recently worked as a set-piece coach for Premier League survivors Nottingham Forest.
He took the role in December 2023 and helped Forest avoid relegation to the Championship in the season’s final weeks.
To date, Rusk’s only senior head coach role came at Stockport County in 2021. He served in the role between January and November, before being sacked.
He guided them to the play-offs in his first season but was relieved of his duties, after only nine months, with the club sitting 10th in the National League after 12 games.
After leaving Stockport, he headed further north and took a role as Dundee’s assistant boss. He lasted just five months there.
His contract was not renewed after Dundee’s relegation from the Scottish Premiership.
Rusk’s best work has come in the youth game. He built his reputation as Brighton’s under-23s head coach, a role he held for nine years.
More recently, Rusk worked as England’s under-19 head coach until taking the job at Forest in December of last year.
What should we expect from Rusk tactically?
Rusk’s under-21s like to get to retain possession but aim to get the ball forward quickly. They often attempt balls in behind for their pacy forwards or ask them to drive with the ball.
Speaking to the Daily Echo earlier this season, Rusk explained: “Quick attacking on the turnover is a big part of the modern game.
“We want to dominate possession but we also want to dominate on transitions.”
Rusk won’t be expected to implement his philosophy in such a short period and may prefer to adopt a different approach with this set of players.
However, he was appointed due to sharing the philosophy of football Sport Republic want throughout the club.
What has he achieved this season?
Southampton’s under-21s currently sit 16th in the Premier League 2 table with 13 points after 10 games.
His side most recently suffered a 5-1 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday. They have, however, beaten current PL2 champions Spurs this season.
Who will be on his staff?
Saints are yet to confirm who will serve on Rusk’s staff when Saints take on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.
Former Premier League winger Matthew Etherington is the current under-21s assistant and Ryan Flood works as the goalkeeper coach. Both could step up to the senior staff for now.
Adam Lallana, a member of the first squad, has coaching expertise from working with England’s under-21 team. He might be asked to fill in until a complete group of temporary employees can be assembled.
Off the field, the 36-year-old has been instrumental in coaching Tyler Dibling and Sam Amo-Ameyaw. He has also frequently sat with coaches sitting on the bench.
Read more news:https://sportupdates.co.uk/
Leave a Reply