Mauricio Pellegrino - the Southampton managerial target in profile

Mauricio Pellegrino – the Southampton managerial target in profile

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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MADRID, SPAIN – AUGUST 19: head coach Jose Mourinho (R) of Real Madrid argues with head coach Mauricio Pellegrino of Valencia during the La Liga match between Real madrid and Valencia at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 19, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) /

Back in Argentina

After his experience at Valencia, Pellegrino opted to return to Argentina to further hone his managerial skills.

His two-year stint at Estudiantes de La Plata was relatively successful, with the team finishing fourth in his first season. However expectations were high, and subsequent mediocre performances in league and continental competitions led to another sacking. After a six-game run without a win club president Juan Sebastian Veron ended Pellegrino’s tenure in April 2015.

In June of the same year he took charge of Independiente. But despite another respectable performance in the league, the board decided not to renew his contract at the end of the season.

Pellegrino had learnt a lot in his return to Argentina, but the time had come to turn his focus back to Europe.