Being manager in Premier League is dream, says Ralph Hasenhuttl
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Ralph Hasenhuttl has admitted that being a coaching in the Premier League is the dream for any manager because it’s the best league in the world. The Austrian coached all three divisions in Germany before leading RB Leipzig to the Champions League in his first season and then left for Southampton.
It’s been a stunning journey to the Premier League for Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, with the Austrian exploring the German leagues before leaving for England. He turned Ingolstadt 04 around taking them from the bottom of Bundesliga 2 and brought them into the top flight for the first time in their history. That earned him a move to RB Leipzig, where he lead them to the Champions League in their maiden season.
However, while they failed to make it past the group stage, Hasenhuttl’s style of football and the way the younger players flourished under his tenure made him perfect for Southampton - a Saints side that struggled to make an impact under former managers since Mauricio Pochettino and Claude Puel left. But Hasenhuttl went on admit that he’s happy that he has finally reached the Premier League because it’s the dream for any manager. The Austrian was appointed by Southampton half-way through last season and has made quite an impression on not just the club but the league as well.
"Every step I've taken so far was important for my development as a coach and a manager because I think if you learn your job from the very fundamentals, it helps you massively when you are at the highest level because every mistake you make there can make a big impact in your performance. I'm very thankful that I got the chance to go through all my steps, from the youth up to the third, second and then first league in Germany and now the Premier League. If you want to have development as a manager then it's the best path I think,” Hasenhuttl told Sky Sports.
"As a manager, the two promotions were very important, the first with Aalen (from Bundesliga 3 into Bundesliga 2) and the second with Ingolstadt into the Bundesliga, that was maybe the biggest success. Also reaching the Champions League in the first season at Leipzig, that was a very big step in my career, but being a manager in the Premier League is the best you can reach. Because it was the next step, I really wanted to go."
Southampton was struggling in 16 place and battling relegation when the Austrian arrived, with him turning around their fortunes and leading them back up the table. Not only that, the Austrian has won plaudits for playing an attractive style of football and picked up results against much better sides. That includes beating Arsenal in his first home game and getting the better of Tottenham, Everton and Leicester City amongst other sides. However, it was just the situation that Hasenhuttl thrives in, with him admitting that choosing a team in a tough situation was not a coincidence.
"It seems like it is something I really like because you can have a big impact in such a club. You're bringing your philosophy, your work ethic and your mentality, then you can have an immediate output. What I see now is we are believing we are going to win and I really like to go this way. I also managed in the Champions League and it's maybe a different goal you have there, you have to win every game and here, you do want to win every game, but we know it will not happen because we are not one of the big clubs in England. We will make developing steps, small ones but do so continuously,” concluded the Austrian.
