Southampton FC: Worrying Tonda Eckert exit threat emerges | OneFootball

Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach are reportedly interested in the Southampton head coach following a disappointing league season.

The end of Southampton's Championship season is at risk of being completely overshadowed as a result of the "Spygate" saga, regarding their play-off semi-final with Middlesbrough.

The Saints have been charged by the EFL under their rule 127, which specifically precludes clubs from seeking to gain access to opposing clubs' training sessions.

The first leg at The Riverside Stadium ended in a goalless draw, but a 117th-minute goal in the return match at St Mary's booked Southampton a place at Wembley in the final against Hull City at the end of a fractious evening on the south coast.

But Saints celebrations have been tempered by these charges, which could yet result in a points deduction for the club next season regardless of which division they're playing in, or even with them being ejected from the play-offs altogether.

And now, fans have another potential concern with reports linking head coach Tonda Eckert with a potential return to Germany.

Tonda Eckert on list of potential options for Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach

Sport Witness have reported that Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach have put the Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert on a list of potential new head coaches, as they seek to rebuild following an underwhelming 11th-placed finish in this season's Bundesliga.

They confirm reports in the German media that Gladbach could be set to replace their head coach Eugene Polanski, even though he's only been in the position since September 2025.

Polanski remains in his position, and the German news outlet Rheinische Post has stated that there are no internal appointments that the club can make, while they have concerned that other available head coaches from the Bundesliga may not be tempted to the club.

They confirm that the club will not make a decision until after the Championship play-off final, which is scheduled to be played on the 23rd May. It is also reported that they have an "extensive" list of potential replacements, should they decide to replace their current head coach, and that Eckert's "work and current success at Southampton has not gone unnoticed back in his homeland."

Eckert's future could be determined by the EFL charges against Southampton

That Tonda Eckert's achievements at Southampton should have caught the eye of clubs back in Germany is little surprise.

Having been appointed to the head coach's position at St Mary's following the disastrous spell of Will Still at the start of November, the Saints only lost five of their 33 Championship matches under his control and have - in theory, at least - a place in this year's play-off final to look forward to.

Initially appointed as an interim choice, Eckert's position was made permanent at the start of December.

With no decision having yet been reached over the "Spygate" drama which has overshadowed the end of their season, it makes sense that Borussia Mönchengladbach haven't yet made a decision over whether to approach Eckert or not. Should Southampton start next season in the Premier League, there's a strong likelihood that he will want to be in charge of the team.

But should the Saints have to start next season either in the Championship again or in the Premier League and facing an uphill battle due to the application of a points deduction, the idea of returning to Germany could become more appealing to the young manager, who's in his first position as a head coach at St Mary's, having only appointed as their under-21s head coach last July.

Eugene Polanski arrived at the club in September 2025, after a disastrous start to the season led to the sacking of Gerardo Seoane with the team having taken just one point from their first three matches of the season.

While it took until the start of November for them to record their first League win of the season, Polanski did steady the ship there, but disappointing form throughout the latter stages of the season have led to the possibility of another managerial change there.

Eckert has already demonstrated frustration over the 'Spygate' matter, walking out of a press conference following the Middlesbrough second leg after being asked by a journalist whether he was "a cheat." It was the second time in four days that he'd done this.

It can only be considered likely that his head could be turned by Gladbach's interest, should the EFL decide that cheating is what the club's actions amounted to as a result of the upcoming case.