“Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Claude Puel as its new First Team Manager,” a statement on the club’s official website read.
“The 54 year-old, who has agreed a three-year contract with Saints, takes charge ahead of the first team’s return to training on 1st July.”
Puel, a former Monaco midfielder, won the league with his former club as manager in 2000, before going on to coach fellow French clubs Lille, Lyon and Nice, where he has spent the last four years.
Southampton’s Executive Director of Football Les Reed revealed his delight in Puel’s appointment.
“As the process eliminated a number of excellent candidates, Claude clearly came out on top of a very impressive shortlist,” he said. “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.”
Puel replaces Ronaldo Koeman – now coach at Everton – at St Mary’s, and will try go one better than the club’s sixth-place finish last season in the EPL standings to secure European football.