Can Tonda Eckert Turn Momentum Into a Permanent Job at Southampton? | OneFootball

Southampton are heading into the Christmas period without a permanent manager. The Saints’ hierarchy has decided to temporarily keep Tonda Eckert in charge at St Mary’s. Bold? Yes. But after winning two games out of two, he has earned a further opportunity to showcase himself.

But how did he get here, and what tactical ethos has he implemented during his short tenure so far?

His Managerial Career Until Now

Tonda Eckert started in Germany, working his way up and elevating himself from FC Köln’s under-17 assistant manager to being appointed assistant at Bayern Munich’s under-17s. He was at Bayern for just 16 games before making the international switch to England.

He landed at Barnsley, working under managers Gerhard Struber and Valérien Ismaël. He played a key role in helping the Tykes reach the play-offs, only to lose to Swansea City in the semi-finals. Another switch to Genoa was made just a few years later. Working under the likes of Patrick Vieira in Italy will have given him immense experience in a managerial role.

At Genoa, he and Southampton technical director Johannes Spors were both there. His time in Italy left a mark on Spors, prompting him to bring Eckert to the Saints.

Joining Saints’ academy system in the summer, the German took charge of ten under-21s fixtures, averaging 1.90 points per game. Bringing the likes of Nicolas Oyekunle and Barnaby Williams from the under-18s to 21s has shown the 32-year-old’s trust in youth. Both of these youngsters have made their senior debuts this season, too, with Williams playing the entire second half in Southampton’s 3-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday.

After Will Still’s sacking, Eckert guided the South Coast outfit through a pivotal week, picking up a maximum of six points. While it may have been a manager bounce, Eckert deserves credit for getting the players to grind out results – something Still will be envious of.

His Tactical Tweaks

That attitude explains why his tweaks have been more about movement and intent rather than a tactical redesign.

Bringing back Captain Jack Stephens aided the back line. His experience is crucial in a youthful defence, where the next oldest centre-backs, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Nathan Wood, are both just 23.

He hasn’t been shy about starting his best players. Will Still was reluctant to regularly start Tom Fellows, but Eckert realised he must play. His championship experience and elusive dribbling are a unique combination. If Fellows can operate in the attacking phases for as long as possible, the 22-year-old is one of the most effective players in the league.

Eckert pushed Harwood-Bellis wide in possession to provide cover, allowing Fellows to advance down the right flank. Against Sheffield Wednesday, this meant the Saints often found themselves in a makeshift 4-2-3-1, allowing Finn Azaz to creep inside where he’s most effective and an overall improvement in attacking play.

They had less possession than the Owls (44% to their 56%) but created better quality opportunities, with four big chances compared to Wednesday’s 0. While they missed three, Eckert will be pleased to see more efficient chance creation – which will be monumental against higher-quality opposition.

The German manager hasn’t revolutionised Southampton but has made small, impactful tweaks that have allowed his most influential personnel on the pitch. Substitutions have rarely made a positive impact this season, but under Eckert, the side has been able to weather late-game pressure. Whether that continues is uncertain, and when it doesn’t, his reaction will be pivotal in proving he can handle the job.

Potential Risks

There are still clear risks to handing a young, inexperienced coach the reins at St Mary’s. His senior managerial experience is limited, and despite his tactical clarity, the question remains whether he can maintain performance levels once the initial momentum drops. The Championship is unforgiving, and a large portion of the Southampton faithful want an experienced figure, proven with success at the task at hand.

Sport Republic have been reportedly interviewing candidates, highlighting that they’re trying to be proactive. But they’re yet to appoint a consistent and successful manager, and their judgement has been heavily scrutinised, and rightly so. Many questioned whether Will Still commanded authority in the dressing room, having never played professionally, but Eckert faces that exact challenge.

If Sport Republic intends to recentre the first team around youth development, pragmatism and internal pathways, Eckert represents a cheap option with a possibility of high reward. But the risk of appointing him permanently is tremendous, and it would be another gamble that could further jeopardise the future of Sport Republic’s ownership.

Whether Eckert becomes anything more than a caretaker will depend on how he navigates these next three games. The tasks of Charlton, Leicester and Millwall will pose a significant threat to his managerial odds. What’s clear, though, is that Southampton finally look energised again — and for now, Eckert deserves the chance to keep leading them.