Formerly at Luton Town, the 49-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at St Mary’s and brings a solid track record of developing players and building winning teams to the South East of England.
This comes after the sacking of Ralph Hasenhuttl. The Austrian left Southampton in the relegation zone, having only won three Premier League games since the start of the season and recently being booed off after a disastrous 4-1 defeat at home to Newcastle.
After a first successful stint in charge of Luton, the Welshman led his squad to the Championship play-offs last season, just three games away from reaching the Premier League, earning Jones the title of Championship Manager of the Year.
I'm really proud to be given this opportunity. It's a wonderful football club
Nathan Jones
His first game in charge of The Saints was at Anfield and ended in a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool. A game that was probably seen as an opportunity for his players to earn his trust and put themselves in the conversation of being a regular first team starter, after the World Cup.
On joining Southampton, Jones said, “I’m really proud to be given this opportunity. It’s a wonderful football club.
“I know a lot about the club from back in the days of The Dell … a lot of my family are Southampton fans, which doesn't half help.
“This club in particular - because of how it’s run, because of the structure, because of how they look deeper than just results - really appeals to me.”
Southampton sit 19th in the Premier League, two points below the relegation zone. With upcoming matches against Brighton, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, and Everton, Jones may have a real opportunity to make a great early impression on the fans.