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Mauricio Pellegrino – the Southampton managerial target in profile

By Nikos Lemanis

VALENCIA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Mauricio Pellegrino of Valencia looks on from the bench during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Valencia CF and FC BATE Borisov at Estadi de Mestalla on November 7, 2012 in Valencia, Spain. Valencia won 4-2. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
VALENCIA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Mauricio Pellegrino of Valencia looks on from the bench during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Valencia CF and FC BATE Borisov at Estadi de Mestalla on November 7, 2012 in Valencia, Spain. Valencia won 4-2. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images) /
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 9: Mauricio Pellegrino of Liverpool holds off Antoine Sibierski of Man City during the FA Barclays Premiership match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the City of Manchester Stadium on April 9, 2005 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 9: Mauricio Pellegrino of Liverpool holds off Antoine Sibierski of Man City during the FA Barclays Premiership match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the City of Manchester Stadium on April 9, 2005 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

Valencia

Having taken over at Valencia during one of their most tumultuous periods, his first managerial role was short and brutal. He was personally appointed by owner Manolo Llorente, but sacked when the season was only 13 weeks old.

He left Valencia in 11th position, 4 points off a Champions League spot, and having qualified for the knockout stage of that year’s competition. This certainly doesn’t appear to be a terrible record.

It seems that Pellegrino largely had the backing of the fans and the players before he was dismissed. In fact it was reported that the sacking came as Llorente looked for a scapegoat when the fans started turning on him and the board.

This seems to be backed up by the reaction of the players. Club captain David Albelda said “The players have not been worthy of the coach. He is a great person and a magnificent coach.”