Southampton manager Tonda Eckert’s work at St Mary’s is attracting interest from other clubs.
The Saints initially signed him as the U21 manager in July and promoted him as the first team interim boss in November, after parting ways with Will Still.
At that time, Southampton were 21st in the table and won four of the five matches under the German.
In December, the Championship side appointed him as the permanent manager and their results have improved under Eckert.
Since his permanent appointment, Eckert has managed 30 matches, and his record is as follows:
- Matches: 30
- Wins: 19
- Draws: 7
- Loses: 4
- Goals scored: 57
- Goals conceded: 32
This includes a 2-1 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final and Southampton face Manchester City in the semifinal on Saturday.
At the same time, the English club are now in contention for a direct promotion to the Premier League. They are fourth in the table, three points behind second placed Ipswich Town.
Southampton boss on German club’s shortlist
The German’s work at the Championship side have clearly not gone unnoticed back in his country.
That’s according to Bild, who report VfB Stuttgart have included Tonda Eckert in their list.
Sebastian Hoeneß is now in charge, and his side are fourth in the Bundesliga, two points ahead of fifth placed TSG Hoffenheim and two behind third placed RB Leipzig. In short, Stuttgart are in firm contention to qualify for the Champions League.
Stuttgart don’t intend to part ways with their manager, who is also on Real Madrid’s radar. Therefore, they are looking at candidates to replace Hoeneß and the Southampton boss is in their shortlist.
There has been no contact between the 33-year-old and the Bundesliga side so far. Eckert ‘doesn’t intend to look for a new club’ in the summer because he’s ‘very comfortable’ at Southampton.
He has a clear goal as the manager wants to take the Saints back to the Premier League.
Southampton’s remaining fixtures
The Saints have three matches left this season and there’ll be more fixtures if they make it to the Championship playoffs.
- v Manchester City [FA Cup] on April 25th
- v Ipswich Town [home] on April 28th
- v Preston North End [away] on May 2nd
