Southampton have appointed Claude Puel as their new first-team manager, and Les Reed, their executive director of football, is confident the Frenchman is the right man to build on a record-breaking 2015/16 campaign.
Saints finished sixth with 63 points last season, both new highs for the club in the competition that secured a place in the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League group stages, and he replaces Ronald Koeman, who took over as Everton manager earlier this month.
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Puel becomes the seventh French manager in the Premier League era, and arrives after leading OGC Nice to fourth place in France's Ligue 1 last season.
French managers in Premier League era
| Manager | P | W | D | L | Win % |
| Arsene Wenger | 752 | 434 | 187 | 131 | 57.7 |
| Gerard Houllier | 261 | 122 | 69 | 70 | 46.7 |
| Jean Tigana | 71 | 20 | 22 | 29 | 28.2 |
| Jacques Santini | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 27.3 |
| Alain Perrin | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 20 |
| Remi Garde | 20 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 10 |
Following an entire playing career spent at Monaco, some of which was spent working under Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Puel took over as manager and guided the club from the Principality to the league title in 2000.
He joined Lille two years later, where he spent six seasons, before moving on to Lyon, helping them reach their first UEFA Champions League semi-final in 2008.
The 54-year-old subsequently enjoyed four successful campaigns at Nice before leaving this summer.
“The process to appoint a new First Team Manager has been diligent and meticulous,” Reed told saintsfc.co.uk. “As the process eliminated a number of excellent candidates, Claude clearly came out on top of a very impressive shortlist. We have not only got the best man, but the right coaching team to support him.
“Claude has a fantastic platform to work from and is aware that our ambition is to repeat and improve on our performances in the Premier League over the past three seasons.
“Claude has a track record of improving the situations he has been presented with and we are confident he can repeat this at Southampton.”
As part of Puel’s appointment, Eric Black has been appointed as assistant first team manager and Pascal Plancque will be the club’s first team assistant coach.
Current Saints goalkeeping coach Dave Watson has signed a new deal to remain at St Mary’s Stadium, while Sammy Lee departs after two seasons at the club.
For more on Puel's appointment at Southampton, visit saintsfc.co.uk.
