---
title: "Flashback: Southampton appoint Claude Puel"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/flashback-claude-puel/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Caleb Sage"
section: "Features"
published: "2019-05-22T19:10:57Z"
modified: "2019-06-19T10:45:29Z"
---

# Flashback: Southampton appoint Claude Puel

**Since winning promotion to the Premier League back in 2012, Southampton have not been able to catch a break.**

As well as losing key players transfer window after transfer window, the south coast club have also had two exceptional coaches in Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman poached from them.

After guiding the Saints to a sixth-place finish back in the 2015/16 season, Koeman departed St. Mary’s for Everton, forcing his former side to turn to Claude Puel.

A manager of his ability, losing the Dutchman was a blow. That, however, did not stop Southampton supporters from getting excited and being optimistic about Puel’s appointment.

> yesss
>
> — tom constable (@tom\_constable\_) [June 30, 2016](https://twitter.com/tom_constable_/status/748501772411486208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Welcome to our Saints world [#saintsfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/saintsfc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#WeMarchOn](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeMarchOn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#Europe](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Europe?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Art68 (@ArthurCogger) [June 30, 2016](https://twitter.com/ArthurCogger/status/748503260751859712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> puel puel puel… Come on and do the conga
>
> — simon leason (@simon\_leason) [June 30, 2016](https://twitter.com/simon_leason/status/748502700896169984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> YYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!
>
> — Dan (@HolyHojbjerg) [June 30, 2016](https://twitter.com/HolyHojbjerg/status/748501743672172544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/ArthurGoddard13/status/748503531192262657

> I’m excited & Nervous about [#Puel](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Puel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), but I say let’ bring it on & see what happens!! [#saintsfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/saintsfc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#WeMarchOn](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeMarchOn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#SaintClaude](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaintClaude?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Dean Lucas (@DeanoBaggio83) [June 30, 2016](https://twitter.com/DeanoBaggio83/status/748526137580601345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> And he speaks decent English always a positive. [#saintsfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/saintsfc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#Puel](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Puel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Paul (@happyhoppy66) [June 30, 2016](https://twitter.com/happyhoppy66/status/748527730493370369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Looking forward to seeing attractive football at St Marys [#Puel](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Puel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Tariq Abdalla (@tariqabdalla7) [June 30, 2016](https://twitter.com/tariqabdalla7/status/748507879611731968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> [@BBCSouthToday](https://twitter.com/BBCSouthToday?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#Puel](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Puel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) he sounds an excellent fit for our club and our academy lads [#WeMarchOn](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeMarchOn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Art68 (@ArthurCogger) [June 30, 2016](https://twitter.com/ArthurCogger/status/748544357268135936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Sammy Lee was a fantastic part of the club culture & will be missed – but the [#Puel](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Puel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Era starts today! [#WeMarchOn](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeMarchOn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [https://t.co/E8NsbeY5pI](https://t.co/E8NsbeY5pI)
>
> — Tony Edwards (@tony\_itsmartguy) [June 30, 2016](https://twitter.com/tony_itsmartguy/status/748537817098235904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

And having led the Premier League outfit to a top-half finish, while taking them to a League Cup final along the way, many would argue Puel did a good job.

But from fans’ perspective, in the end, Puel was a huge disappointment, a sentiment the Southampton board clearly shared after sacking the Frenchman at the end of his first campaign in charge.

Harsh? Perhaps when you look at what Puel was able to achieve in both the Premier League and League Cup that season in terms of results.

But in the full context of things, you can understand why both supporters and the St. Mary’s hierarchy wanted a quick divorce.

Too often, the football under the former Nice manager was not good viewing, with the team’s failure to find the back of the net a frustrating sight for the Southampton faithful.

Whether his sacking was harsh or not, ultimately, Puel was unable to deliver what fans wanted to see.

***Southampton supporters, what are some of your memories of Puel’s short stint at St. Mary’s? Join the discussion by commenting below.***