Southampton New Manager: 6 Candidates To Replace Mauricio Pochettino
3. Michael Laudrup
Easily the most familiar name on this list, Michael Laudrup is not just the only one here with Premier League managerial experience, but he was also one of the greatest players of his generation. With the likes of Juventus, Real Madrid and Ajax, Laudrup learnt from the best managers in the business, but the most significant part of his playing career saw him as part of Johann Cruyff's all conquering Barcelona Dream Team. Just as Cruyff established the free flowing, short passing Barcelona style as he guided the team to their first European Cup, so can his legacy be measured in the players from that team who are now top level managerial talent: Pep Guardiola, Txiki Begiristain, Ronald Koeman and Laudrup. Like Cruyff and those others, Laudrup has won games playing positive, attacking football. His preferred pressing and passing style is well suited to how Southampton played under Pochettino. In 12 years of management Laudrup has proved himself at a number of clubs in different countries, winning the Danish double with Brondby, and pushing Getafe and Mallorca to perform well beyond expectations in La Liga before he arrived in Britain. At Swansea he won the club their first major trophy and last year's sacking seemed harsh given a solid mid-table position and progress in cup competitions both in Europe and at home, knocking Man Utd out of the FA Cup. Failure to progress very far in either cup, and not seeming especially bothered about it, was one area where Pochettino disappointed Saints fans, so if Laudrup could deliver this he would definitely make himself popular at St. Mary's. His ability in the transfer market is another plus with his time in Spain enabling him to spot Michu as the bargain signing of the last few years and his high status from his playing career able to attract players who are personal admirers to clubs they might not otherwise be interested in. Despite a bitter end to his Swansea career, Laudrup remains one of Europe's highest rated young managers and will surely be in line for a top flight job soon, why not Southampton?
