Mark Hughes has signed a three-year contract with Southampton after guiding the South coast club to Premier League safety this past season, the club have confirmed.
The former-Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City manager was a surprise hire by many, replacing Mauricio Pellegrino in March. He surprised more in keeping the Saints up.
Southampton were officially safe on the final day of the season following Swansea City’s defeat at home to Stoke City.
Hughes has kept his trusted assistant manager, Mark Bowen, as well as first-team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki at St Mary’s as they begin to build for the 2018-19 Premier League campaign.
Mark Hughes won three of his 10 games in charge of Southampton since taking over after Mauricio Pellegrino had left the club in a tough relegation battle.
The Saints sold key centre-back Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool in a £75 million deal in January and many expected the club to drop into the Championship as a result. Hughes and Southampton now have a big rebuilding job over the summer after the club continue to sell season after season.
