EPL

'I'd like to experience other things' – Hasenhuttl wants to retire when Southampton contract expires

By Sports Desk February 07, 2022

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has said he would like to retire when his contract at the Premier League club expires in 2024.

The former RB Leipzig boss was appointed in December 2018 and he signed a new four-year contract 18 months later.

Hasenhuttl, who has coached since 2007, has previously been linked with a potential move to clubs elsewhere in the Premier League.

However, he has suggested that could be his last deal at the club, with the Austrian revealing he wants to try things away from the game.

"I always wanted to prove to myself that I could very well work for a club for a longer period of time," he told German outlet Kicker.

"Hopefully it will be five-and-a-half-years here. That's a damn long time in modern football, and then that's probably it.

"Five-and-a-half-years in the Premier League, that's a lot of energy, regardless of job satisfaction. I can't imagine that I want to do anything else in coaching after that.

"And saying no to everything else is also a yes to yourself, and I want that. That's the solid plan and I hope I have the strength to pull it off.

"I want to put Southampton on a very healthy footing by 2024, but then that is it.

"I'll be 57 years old. I'd like to experience other things and not sit on the bench like Roy Hodgson [Watford manager] at 74. Definitely not."

The Saints are 12th as it stands, having picked up 25 points from their 22 games.

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    Real Salt Lake - Cristian Arango

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    MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA WIN

    Salt Lake have managed just four wins in 21 all-time away playoff matches (D7 L10) including going winless in four straight (D2 L2). RSL lost on penalties in each of the last two away matches that ended in draws (2022 at Austin FC, 2023 against the Houston Dynamo).

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    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

    Minnesota United - 44.5%

    Real Salt Lake - 28.6%

    Draw - 26.9%

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