Not so Saintly: Southampton shows lurking mean streak in Pellegrino hire
Few would've thought the befuddled man dumped by Charlton Athletic on Christmas Eve after just 41 days would, under 11 years later, be at the forefront of one of the most astute, measured, and at times meanest operations in English football.
In 2006, Les Reed, wearing the expression of an exam-sitting student who'd prepared for the wrong test, led the Addicks to one victory in seven Premier League matches, and an embarrassing 1-0 League Cup elimination at home against Wycombe Wanderers. He was shamefully sacked after hampering Charlton fans' festive celebrations, earning the moniker "Santa Clueless."
That brief and turbulent spell as manager couldn't be more different than the calculated and sometimes cruel approach he's instilled as vice-chairman at Southampton. Friday's hire of ex-CD Alaves handler Mauricio Pellegrino - a former No. 2 to Rafa Benitez at Liverpool and Inter Milan - further demonstrates Reed's sly work behind the scenes at Southampton.
"Whether they are fired or attracted to another club, as with Mauricio (Pochettino), you have to be as far ahead with potential coaches as potential players," Reed said in 2015. "So I'm always tracking managers and coaches. What's their style of play, how successful are they, what's their personality like - so you can be ahead of the game. So I'm always looking at five or six potential managers who have already impressed me. It's made it quicker. We're not having off the wall discussions."
Appointing Claude Puel last summer was a misstep. Southampton's first appearance in the League Cup final since 1979 was secured in February, and the club was unfortunate to be on the end of a late 3-2 defeat to Manchester United, but fans were otherwise numbed by unadventurous outings at St Mary's. The Saints sunk two places from the previous term's standing of sixth under Ronald Koeman, and the final match of the season - a 1-0 home loss to a vacation-mode Stoke City - was the final straw. He was fired on June 14.
Saints' philosophy
Now, the appointment of Pellegrino ushers in a return to Southampton's traditions of attacking football - the club's patron saint is the audacious maverick Matt Le Tissier, after all. It's the "Southampton Way," as Reed puts it.
"Initially my job is to identify coaches who will buy into (the philosophy) because of the track record they've got and the style they play. We look for evidence that they've brought young players through before," Reed explained when Koeman was at Southampton's helm.
"So far I've hit the nail on the head with managers who have a very similar philosophy - and that's what attracted them to the club."
He added: "(Some clubs) go for a personality or a track record and the manager says - 'If I come to you, if you're lucky enough to have me, I want this, this, this and this.' We would never go down that route. We will not be interviewed by a manager - we will interview them."
Through the attractive albeit trophyless stuff on show at Southampton, and the constant sales of its best players, it's been hard for the club to avoid the "nice" tag. A supposed lack of competitiveness yet regular entertainment makes it easy for the south-coast lot to be everybody's second-favourite club, when its actually willing to orchestrate risky and distasteful moves to adhere to its stubborn mindset.
Puel's sacking would've appeared harsh by many who don't watch Southampton week in, week out, but it pales in comparison to the change in early 2013 that angered a fan base and shook the club's loyal customs.
The most unpopular decision
Nigel Adkins' promotion from physio to manager at Scunthorpe United inspired one of the best stadium soundbites of the decade or so - "Who needs Mourinho? We've got our physio," - and his exploits in charge of the Iron led to his appointment as Southampton manager in 2010.
In 26 months, Adkins lifted the Saints 51 places up the football league pyramid and his affable personality made him an immensely popular figure at the club. It wasn't enough, and after an impressive run of two defeats in 12 matches of Southampton's Premier League return, Adkins was shown the door in favour of a little-known, offensively inclined manager by the name of Mauricio Pochettino, who spoke through an interpreter.
Today, Pochettino is one of the most coveted managers in world football after establishing an exciting and young Tottenham Hotspur side among the country's elite.
Considering the performances of Marcos Llorente and Theo Hernandez under his wing at Alaves, and the often enthralling football on show in the 2016-17 term, don't be surprised if Pellegrino emulates Pochettino's attacking philosophy and, in turn, re-establishes Southampton's general trend of gradual improvement.
If not, Reed will have another five or six managers waiting to take Pellegrino's place.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)