2017–18 Southampton F.C. season
Southampton F.C. 2017–18 football season / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2017–18 Southampton F.C. season was the club's 19th season in the Premier League and their 41st in the top division of English football.[1] In addition to the Premier League, the club also competed in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. Southampton finished 17th in the Premier League table with seven wins, 15 draws and 16 losses.[2] They were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the second round by Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers,[3] and were knocked out of the semi-finals of the FA Cup by Chelsea.[4] The season was Southampton's first and only campaign with manager Mauricio Pellegrino, who replaced Claude Puel after one season in charge on 23 June 2017.[5] Pellegrino was sacked with eight league games remaining on 12 March 2018, with the club in 17th position in the table, one point above the relegation zone.[6] Mark Hughes, who played for the club between 1998 and 2000, was appointed as his replacement two days later.[7]
2017–18 season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Ralph Krueger | |||
Manager | Mauricio Pellegrino (until 12 March 2018) Mark Hughes (from 14 March 2018) | |||
Stadium | St Mary's Stadium | |||
Premier League | 17th | |||
FA Cup | Semi-finals | |||
EFL Cup | Second round | |||
Top goalscorer | League: Charlie Austin (7) All: Charlie Austin (7) Dušan Tadić (7) | |||
Highest home attendance | 31,930 v Manchester United (23 September 2017) | |||
Lowest home attendance | 17,931 v Wolverhampton Wanderers (23 August 2017) | |||
Average home league attendance | 30,793 | |||
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Following the end of the 2016–17 season, Southampton released Martín Cáceres, Lloyd Isgrove, Cuco Martina and Harley Willard.[8] They also sold Jason McCarthy to Barnsley for an undisclosed fee,[9] Jay Rodriguez to West Bromwich Albion for £12 million,[10] and Paulo Gazzaniga to Tottenham Hotspur for an undisclosed fee.[11] Five players were sent out on season-long loans – Harrison Reed to Norwich City,[12] Harry Lewis to Dundee United,[13] Ryan Seager to Milton Keynes Dons,[14] Sam Gallagher to Birmingham City,[15] and Jordy Clasie to Club Brugge[16] – while Olufela Olomola joined Yeovil Town on loan until January.[17]
Southampton's first signing of the summer transfer window was Polish centre-back Jan Bednarek, who joined from Lech Poznań for £5 million on 1 July.[18] The club's second signing followed on 8 August, when Gabonese defensive midfielder Mario Lemina joined from Italian club Juventus for an initial fee of £15.4 million, which could increase to a club record £18.1 million based on performance.[19] On 14 August, Southampton signed free agent goalkeeper Jack Rose, who had most recently played for West Bromwich Albion.[20] The following week, the club signed Dutch centre-back Wesley Hoedt from Italian side Lazio for £15 million.[21]
When the transfer window reopened in January 2018, Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk joined Liverpool for £75 million, a world record fee for a defender.[22] Young striker Marcus Barnes joined Yeovil Town on loan for the rest of the season on 5 January,[23] while left-back Matt Target joined Championship side Fulham on loan for the rest of the season on 22 January.[24] On 25 January, the club signed Argentine striker Guido Carrillo from French side AS Monaco for a club record fee of £19 million.[25] Seager was recalled from his loan at Milton Keynes Dons on 26 January, and instead joined Yeovil Town until the end of the season.[26]