Mauricio Pellegrino
Pellegrino has confirmed that he is set to leave Deportivo Alaves after enjoying quite a successful season.
The Argentine tactician took charge of the club following their promotion from the Segunda Division to La Liga, after their head coach was poached by Getafe after a strong campaign in the second tier of Spanish football. After enduring a tough previous spell in the La Liga with Valencia, the expectations from Pellegrino were bare minimum, but boy did he defy the odds to finish 9th in the table, while also taking the team to the final of the Copa Del Rey, where they were no match to the might of Barcelona.
Pellegrino is a defensively-orientated coach by trade, having followed Rafa Benitez to both Liverpool and Inter Milan, meaning that he has developed his philosophy based on the influence of the Spaniard.
While Saints fans may not be too welcoming of another defensively-minded coach, Pellegrino does have some qualities that would be well suited to the club. He has developed Alavés’ squad, playing a big part in the development of Théo Hernandez (on loan from Atletico Madrid) particularly, and has helped them to play some good football throughout the course of the season.
The chance to coach in England might be too hard to turn down for Pellegrino, who has seen his compatriot Mauricio Pochettino enjoy decent success on the coast of England and he would obviously love to replicate it.
