‘Hasenhuttl will consider…’ – The Athletic’s Dan Sheldon shares shocking news from Southampton

Ralph Hasenhuttl will consider retiring once his Southampton contract expires in 2024, according to The Athletic’s Dan Sheldon.

The Austrian arrived at St Mary’s in December 2018 after previously managing Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

With his contract set to expire in the summer of 2024, Hasenhuttl will become Saints’ longest-serving manager since Chris Nicholl, if he sees out the remainder of his deal.

To date, the 54-year-old has been in charge for 140 matches at the south-coast club, averaging 1.32 points per match during his tenure.

According to The Athletic’s Dan Sheldon, “Ralph Hasenhuttl will consider retiring once his Southampton contract expires in 2024”.

In an interview with German outlet Kicker (relayed by The Athletic), the Southampton boss spoke about his footballing future.

“I always wanted to prove to myself that I could very well work for a club for a longer period of time.

“Hopefully it will be five-and-a-half-years here, that’s a damn long time in modern football, and then that’s probably it.

“Five-and-a-half-years in the Premier League, that’s a lot of energy, regardless of job satisfaction. I can’t imagine that I want to do anything else in coaching after that.

“And saying no to everything else is also a yes to yourself, and I want that. That’s the solid plan and I hope I have the strength to pull it off. I want to put Southampton on a very healthy footing by 2024, but then that is it.

“I’ll be 57-years-old. I’d like to experience other things and not sit on the bench like Roy Hodgson at 74. Definitely not.”

While one can understand Hasenhuttl’s reasoning – most people in all walks of life would prefer not to work well into their 60s – it certainly comes a shock to hear he would walk away just when he