Opinion: Eckert To Replace Will Still as Southampton Manager | OneFootball

Eckert’s Rising Influence and Southampton’s Search for Stability

Southampton at a Crossroads

When Will Still was dismissed after just five months in charge, few around St Mary’s were surprised. His departure marked yet another chapter in Southampton’s revolving-door era under Sport Republic, the ownership group led by Dragan Solak. In less than three years, the club have seen six different managers occupy the dugout, been relegated twice, and briefly resurrected hopes of a Premier League return before faltering again.

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This latest dismissal exposes the underlying fractures within Southampton’s football structure. For all the talk of data-driven recruitment and modern planning, the club’s decision-making has often appeared reactive, shaped more by short-term panic than long-term clarity. What happens next may define whether this ownership’s project ever stabilises.

Amid the uncertainty, one figure has emerged from the chaos: Tonda Eckert. The 32-year-old German, promoted from the club’s U21s, has quietly reshaped the tone inside the dressing room. Two wins in two matches have not transformed the league table, but they have lifted spirits and prompted the inevitable question: should he get the job?

Eckert’s Case for Consideration

Eckert’s early results have impressed those who matter. Victories over QPR and Sheffield Wednesday have restored belief in a squad low on confidence. What stood out most was the clarity of his approach, a disciplined pressing structure, cohesive attacking movements, and renewed energy from players who looked disinterested under Still.

After the win against Wednesday, Eckert shared a warm exchange with sporting director Johannes Spors, a familiar face from his time at Genoa. The pair’s relationship could be crucial in what comes next. Spors has long admired Eckert’s methodical, analytical style, one forged during spells at Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, and Barnsley.

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“He has a calm authority,” a club source said this week. “The players respect him because he understands how to communicate clearly. He’s also adaptable, which is something this squad has lacked.”

Yet not everyone is convinced. BBC Radio Solent’s Adam Blackmore cautioned that promoting another inexperienced coach would be “too much of a gamble”. He said, “While Eckert’s start has been good, Southampton need someone who can manage expectations, navigate pressure, and command the dressing room.”

Pressure on Solak and Sport Republic

The criticism aimed at Solak and his board is growing louder. Fans are no longer content with vague promises of long-term vision. Many supporters now view the club’s leadership as out of touch with the realities of English football.

“I think where Sport Republic have gone wrong is hiring the wrong managers for the wrong moments,” lifelong fan Rob Maddox said. “Nathan Jones in the Premier League was a poor fit, and Ivan Juric was inexperienced at that level. Will Still had ideas but couldn’t adapt quickly enough. We need someone with Championship experience and presence.”

That sense of fatigue is shared across the fanbase. The once-patient Southampton supporters, famed for their loyalty, have grown sceptical of constant resets and short-term appointments. A club once praised for its academy and stability has become an emblem of modern instability.

Candidates and the Eckert Alternative

Former managers Ralph Hasenhüttl and Russell Martin have both been mentioned, though neither seems likely to return. Gary O’Neil has also been linked, but his Portsmouth roots have made him a divisive candidate among Saints fans. For now, Eckert’s success as interim has given the board time to breathe and assess their options carefully.

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Eckert represents a paradox. At just 32, he fits the club’s preferred profile of a young, progressive coach. He is steeped in European tactical education and shares a footballing language with Spors. Yet his lack of senior experience remains a concern. The decision, therefore, hinges on whether Southampton want evolution or stability.

Squad Balance and Structural Gaps

On the pitch, the issues remain familiar. Southampton’s biggest weakness lies through the middle, where injuries to Ross Stewart have left a gaping hole. The Scottish forward’s absence until 2026 has deprived the side of a natural focal point. Adam Armstrong leads the scoring charts with five goals, but beyond him, contributions have been thin.

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Damion Downs, the summer arrival from Wolfsburg, is yet to score, while the promising wide pair of Finn Azaz and Tom Fellows have impressed without consistent end product. The lack of depth in attacking areas underlines a broader recruitment problem that no manager alone can solve.

Still’s parting comments about “a lack of accountability” in the dressing room were revealing. Several players, he implied, had not applied themselves fully. Eckert’s early challenge has been to re-establish collective standards, and early signs suggest he has succeeded in re-energising a squad that had lost direction.

What Eckert Inherits

Southampton’s next manager, whether Eckert or an external candidate, will inherit a squad with potential but imbalance. Shea Charles has shown maturity in midfield, while Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Nathan Wood look capable of anchoring a solid back line. But the lack of a reliable striker and creative consistency continues to limit progress.

“Every appointment carries risk,” Blackmore noted. “But Southampton must minimise that risk this time. A coach with Championship knowledge, dressing-room authority, and a plan for the January window is vital. Whether that is Michael Carrick, Carlos Corberan, or Eckert himself, they must get financial backing for a proven goalscorer.”

The key question is whether Sport Republic will finally learn from their mistakes. Should they appoint Eckert, they must commit to him fully, financially, structurally, and publicly. Appointing him on the cheap and then dismissing him months later would confirm what many already fear: that Southampton’s hierarchy have lost the courage to build properly.

Eckert, for his part, has shown promise. He has handled pressure with composure and earned the respect of players quickly. Whether that will be enough to convince a cautious board remains uncertain. But in a club weary of upheaval, his quiet influence and steady results might be exactly what Southampton need most.