Rangers, Southampton ‘hoping to appoint’ Bundesliga-linked head coach this summer

Rangers and Southampton have reportedly made Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl their top target ahead of the new season.

The Saints have endured a woeful spell in the Premier League this campaign, collecting just 12 points, meaning that they sit bottom of the standings.

Ivan Juric lasted just a few months in the job before departing, meaning that the South Coast club are back in the market for a new leader in the dugout.

Southampton are supposedly keen on a number of options, including Will Still, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise in Belgium and France in recent years.

The managerless Saints have top-flight meetings with Everton and Arsenal before the recovery period begins ahead of the 2025-26 Championship term.

Rangers, Southampton want Wednesday’s Rohl?

According to TEAMtalk, Rangers and Southampton are set to battle for the services of highly-rated coach Rohl during the summer months before the new campaign.

The report states that the Scottish giants view the 36-year-old as an ideal choice to take the club back to the top of the domestic game at the expense of arch rivals Celtic.

Southampton are also keen on Rohl, who has proven his worth as a second-tier coach during his time at Hillsborough in charge of Sheffield Wednesday.

It is understood that the Saints moved for the German in December following the sacking of Russell Martin, although the Premier League strugglers went on to appoint Juric instead.

Rohl is a man possessing lofty ambitions, with the ex-Germany assistant said to be plotting a route back to the Bundesliga, where RB Leipzig could be potential suitors.

Rohl’s Championship experience

Rohl would be an excellent leader for Southampton next season, with the South Coast club looking to return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

The 36-year-old joined Sheffield Wednesday in October 2023, when his side looked destined for a sobering relegation to the third tier.

The Hillsborough club defied the odds that campaign to remain in the Championship, before Rohl led the Owls to a 12th-placed finish this term.

4-time PL winner delivers hypocritical opinion that Southampton shouldn’t mind

Ruben Dias criticises Southampton’s over-defensive negative football tactics while admitting that every Premier League point is crucial in the ongoing final lap of the season.

Touchwood, but doesn’t it feel that in Simon Rusk, Southampton struck gold for their purpose? After all, amidst uncertainties of the lowest points total, Rusk has been delivering cheeky points, which every fan wanted from Ivan Juric earlier.

Now, under the interim boss, Southampton’s goal-scarce has surely grown worse, but see how, in turn, they have finally avoided the biggest shame possible, steering ahead of Derby’s 11-point record.

Well, that’s exactly why Simon Rusk’s defensive tactics deserve all the praise from Southampton fans. And additionally, a massive respect for the way he frustrated Pep’s Man City to a decisive goalless draw in the Saints’ favour.

But what’s surprising is despite playing a fair and square draw, this latest 0-0 result hasn’t sat well with the visitors. Just see how, multiple-time Premier League winner Ruben Dias criticised Southampton’s tactics as if they were unlawful.

Dias makes hypocritical comment after Southampton draw

As quoted by the Daily Echo, Dias downplayed Southampton’s low-block defence strategy, saying: “Every point matters now, until the end. It was frustrating to play a team like them, they don’t even try to play.”

Still, know what’s hypocritical from the Man City star? Dias himself admitted the importance of every point in this crucial stage of the season, yet blames Southampton for trying their best to secure a much-needed point for themselves.

Well, it’s easy to realise it’s pure frustration from Dias for their inability to win against a bottom side like Southampton, which may affect their Champions League qualification now.

That’s why what’s best in Southampton’s interest is to ignore the defender’s matchday comments. After all, the Saints’ game plan could be called intent-lacking, but it was never unsporting or against the rules.

In the end, it’s been nothing more than a normal draw result that has taken Southampton across Derby’s lowest total ever.