Daily Echo:

MAURICIO Pellegrino has been confirmed as Saints’ latest boss.

The Argentine replaces Claude Puel in what is a very warm managerial hot-seat at St Mary’s.

Here, Simon Harrison - a Spanish-based football writer - looks at Pellegrino’s year in charge at Alaves and what he can bring to the Premier League.

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Deportivo Alaves were La Liga’s biggest success story of last season.

Jose Luis Mendilibar’s Eibar punched well above their weight in terms of their budget, but many expected ‘El Glorioso’ to find themselves in the relegation dogfight alongside fellow promoted sides Osasuna and Leganes.

As it was, Mauricio Pellegrino guided them to a ninth-place finish, an unprecedented 24 points above the drop zone, and their first-ever Copa del Rey final which they bravely lost 3-1 to Barcelona.

Despite it being the club’s first season in the Spanish top flight for a decade, the Argentine coach was not the man who got them back into the big time.

Jose Bordalas secured promotion, a monumental achievement, but Alaves’ board saw enough positives from Pellegrino’s three-year spell coaching in Argentina to pull the trigger on a reshuffle.

Such trust did not come without pressure, as out-performing his predecessor would be difficult.

Gamble Pellegrino’s first managerial spell in LaLiga did not even last six months back in 2012, as Valencia dismissed him due to a poor league start - five wins and six defeats in his 14 matches.

At Mestalla, he looked to play with a two banks of four that pressed high, seeking to set up camp a long way from their own penalty area and take risks to create chances.

That gamble did not pay off.

This did not remain the case for his Alaves blueprint, but one factor was consistent: quick transitions that sought to penalise mistakes and hit opponents on the counter.

Last season, his four-man defence would set up fairly deep, with Real Madrid loanee Marcos Llorente breaking up play in central midfield, holding his position to combat turnovers of possession and ultimately keeping things simple.

A role that would suit Saints midfielder Oriol Romeu down to the ground.

At full back, Atletico Madrid’s young star Theo Hernandez acted as a flying wing back while on loan, with converted winger Kiko Femenia keen to maraud down the opposite flank and support the attack in the final third.

Again, these facets of Pellegrino’s system would be easily replicated by the likes of Cedric Soares and Ryan Bertrand. That suggests the current Saints squad already possesses attributes and players that compliment their new boss’ philosophy well.

Pellegrino managed to achieve the impossible in Spain with minimal funds, relying on loan deals from bigger clubs in order to bolster his squad with short-term options in key areas.

Next season, Alaves will struggle due to the bulk of their first-team spine being ripped out by players returning to their parent clubs, but their coach will start a new, longer chapter for himself at St Mary’s.

There he should be a great fit.

Saints have a well-balanced squad, which Pellegrino could not construct at his former club due to time and budget constraints.

Although he was able to showcase his qualities as a coach by ensuring that Alaves were one of the most organised and resilient units in the division, they didn’t create enough at the other end.

Defensively, they conceded just 43 times in the league, a record bettered only by Atletico Madrid, Villarreal, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Manolo Gabbiadini, Charlie Austin and Jay Rodriguez offer depth and star quality up front that Pellegrino lacked in La Liga.

Deyverson top scored for El Glorioso with just seven league goals, in a season that saw Alaves score just 41 times across 38 match days.

Those figures were replicated by Claude Puel’s at St Mary’s, where Nathan Redmond top scored with seven in a total of 41.

Alaves did not use an out-and-out number 10, as young second-division loanee Victor Camarasa played more as a secondary striker. Pellegrino also did not use wide options that offered much more than being able to whip well-placed crosses into the box.

It was fairly basic but effective, football and Pellegrino would be keen to adapt his system based on his latest charges.

Importantly, he is not rigid in his approach, and is not afraid to react tactically in-game.

Dusan Tadic, Sofiane Boufal and Redmond are far more creative and technically gifted than past personnel, who ran out of ideas in the final third at times.

With a sprinkle of additional quality, plenty of Alaves’ league-high 13 draws could have been narrow wins.

Saints’ impressive academy set up should be Pellegrino’s most important asset, however.

There is no fear to entrust young players with key roles in his system, mirroring the approach of his friend, compatriot and St Mary’s predecessor Mauricio Pochettino.

Pellegrino showed that by utilising Marcos Llorente, Victor Camarasa and Theo Hernandez.

The likes of James Ward-Prowse, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Matt Targett and Sam McQueen will certainly be held in high regard.

Heaven Should Pellegrino wish to source young talent from other clubs, Saints will have the financial resources to secure them permanently.

Key targets can be tied down on long-term deals, rather than the year-long loans that Alaves were capable of negotiating.

The 45-year-old treated his only season at Mendizorroza in a manner that suggested he would have liked to built a legacy there, but ultimately his ambitions seemed too big for their humble means.

Southampton, in contrast, can offer Mauricio Pellegrino everything he wants, and more.

It should be a match made in heaven.

An astute, tactically aware coach with a tendency to utilise young players will be the perfect balance for success in the Premier League.