Claude Puel may have just been unveiled as the new boss of Southampton, but the Frenchman could have arrived in the Premier League a lot earlier, after revealing that he turned down the chance to replace Roy Hodgson as West Bromwich Albion in 2012.
Puel instead deciding to take the OGC Nice job, where he has spent the last four years, before taking over at St. Mary's, last week. Speaking to L'Equipe Puel revealed why he couldn't refuse Southampton's offer and how he came close to arriving at the Hawthornes.
"It was the time to take the plunge. If I had not signed for Southampton, I do not know if I would have managed a Premier League club one day. I wanted to know another Championship for a long time. And then the offer from Southampton came, it is not nothing. The team finished 8th, 7th and 6th in the last three seasons."
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"I could have signed for Porto, 10 years ago (in 2005), but it wasn't the time, I was hired with Lille and the club was fragile. West Bromwich Albion had contacted me too to replace Roy Hodgson, but I went to Nice"
A few managers have thrown their hat in the ring to replace Hodgson as England manager, following the Three Lions' disastrous exit from Euro 2016 at the hands of Iceland. Jurgen Klinsmann has admitted his interest in the role, while whispers from the FA are suggesting that Sam Allardyce is the only English manager currently being considered for the job.
(H/T Sport Witness)
Topics: West Bromwich Albion, Football, Southampton, Premier League, England, Roy Hodgson
