- Southampton are currently in relegation zone, one point adrift of safety
- Hughes’ first game is a quarter-final match against Wigan in the FA Cup
- Saints have moved quickly after sacking Mauricio Pellegrino on Monday
- He said objective is to ensure Southampton are Premier League club next season
Mark Hughes has been announced as the new manager of Southampton, charged with keeping the relegation-threatened Saints in the Premier League.
The former Stoke boss replaces Mauricio Pellegrino who was sacked after only one win in 17 league games.
Southampton currently reside in the relegation zone, one point adrift of safety and Hughes will have eight games to keep his new side afloat.
Mark Hughes is the new Southampton manager after Mauricio Pellegrino was sacked
Hughes played 60 times for Southampton and joins the club on a short term deal until the end of the season.
The 57-year-old told the club’s website: ‘It’s a challenge I’m excited by. It’s a great opportunity to come back to a club I know well, and a club I’ve got real affinity with, and I couldn’t turn that down.
‘I bring experience of the Premier League. I understand what it takes in this league to win games.
But first and foremost I think it’s about coming in and maybe being that different voice, that different message from myself and the staff, that will enable the players to recognise and focus on what needs to be done in this key period of the season.
‘The objective clearly is to remain in the league and make sure we’re a Premier League club next year.
‘That’s where this club needs to be, that’s where it should be, and that’s our intention to make sure it remains there.’