Ruben Selles: Southampton appoint Spaniard as manager until end of season
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Southampton beat Chelsea 1-0 last weekend as Ruben Selles took charge of the match at Stamford Bridge
Ruben Selles has been appointed Southampton manager until the end of the season.
The Premier League's bottom club sacked Nathan Jones after just 95 days in charge earlier this month, having dismissed Ralph Hasenhuttl in November.
Selles' appointment comes after talks with former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch broke down.
The Saints defeated Chelsea on Saturday in Spaniard Selles' one game as interim manager after Jones' sacking.
"It is a pleasure for me and I think all of the technical staff deserve this, they have been amazing and working hard together," Selles said.
"We [have] one mission and we are all in for that, so there is not much time to take the focus away from that.
"I do not need to prove anything. I just think that we have a very good group inside to work and it is my pleasure to lead."
Before the victory over Chelsea, the 39-year-old confirmed he wanted to become the club's next permanent manager, saying he had been ready to become a "number one for the last four years".
Selles, who has coaching experience in Greece, Azerbaijan and Denmark, backed that up by helping his struggling side earn only their second league win since October.
He had been a first-team coach at Southampton under both Hasenhuttl and Jones.
Jones' exit followed defeat by 10-man Wolves, with the former Luton Town boss overseeing eight defeats in nine Premier League games.
Southampton had initially looked to American Marsch as the club saw his style as being the best fit to galvanise the club's squad in the bid to avoid relegation.
However, after those talks faltered over the length of any proposed contract, Selles will be tasked with extending Saints stay in the top flight to an 11th successive season.
His first match as permanent manager is a significant meeting in their fight for survival as they travel to Elland Road to play second-bottom Leeds United on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
Five wins from 23 games so far have left Southampton three points from safety.
Analysis
Adam Blackmore, BBC Radio Solent sports editor
No doubt some people will think Ruben Selles could have been made to sing longer for his supper. But on the flip side, at least Southampton now have some certainty going forward and the focus can be on staying up, not who is coming in.
Senior players in the squad, especially captain James Ward-Prowse, made it clear to senior management they wanted to go back to playing in a more familiar way - a return to four at the back, for a start, after the disastrous Nathan Jones spell - and that they were happy for Selles to be in charge.
It is a big challenge for the Spaniard - a baptism of fire, for sure. But what an opportunity for the 39-year-old.
Selles said last week he has been ready for this for three or four years. Now he has to prove it in the biggest league in the world, with a team bottom of the table.
Quite the audition.
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