OFFICIAL: Southampton appoint Puel as new coach

Southampton have confirmed the appointment of Claude Puel as their new manager. 

The former Lyon and Nice manager has signed a three-year deal at St Mary's and becomes Ronald Koeman's successor following his move to Everton.

Koeman departed the club on June 14 to join the Toffees, and the Saints have now brought their hunt for a new manager to an end by luring Puel to the south coast.

Puel has only ever worked in France prior to his move to Southampton, managing Monaco and Lille as well as Lyon and Nice, and helped guide the latter club to a fourth-placed finish in Ligue 1 last season.

Following Puel's appointment, Eric Black has been confirmed as the club's new assistant manager, while Pascal Plancque joins as the first-team's assistant coach.

“The process to appoint a new First Team Manager has been diligent and meticulous," director of football Les Reed told the club's official website. "In order to ensure we appointed a manager who would meet our needs as a club, feedback from the dressing room, as well as taking account of our culture, vision and values, was critical in drawing up our criteria for the appointment.

“As the process eliminated a number of excellent candidates, Claude clearly came out on top of a very impressive shortlist. We have not only got the best man, but the right coaching team to support him.

“Eric Black has an excellent pedigree as a coach and vast experience domestically and internationally. Pascal Plancque has an excellent record as a technical coach and, like Claude, has been responsible for developing many young French talents into top quality players.