CLAUDE Puel has been announced as new Saints manager on a three-year contract.

Former Aston Villa caretaker manager Eric Black becomes Puel's new assistant manager, while fellow Frenchman Pascal Plancque joins as assistant first team coach.  

Dave Watson has signed a new deal with the club to remain as part of Puel’s backroom staff, while Sammy Lee has departed.

The former Nice boss has been on the club’s radar for some time, having considered him as an option to replace Mauricio Pochettino in 2014, and now takes his first job in English football at St Mary’s.

The former Monaco, Lille and Lyon manager will be on the training pitch to begin pre-season training with the Saints players who have not been on Euro 2016 duty.

Saints conducted an extensive and thorough investigation into who their new boss would be, with many more high profile candidates ignored in favour of bringing in Puel.

Daily Echo:

His commitment to promote youth as well as experience of European football attracted Saints’ executive director of football Les Reed and the club’s hierarchy, who were responsible for finding Ronald Koeman’s replacement.

The 54-year-old, who has a close friendship with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, has had wide success in France and has a reputation for playing exciting attacking football and giving youngsters a chance.

The club’s Staplewood Academy is a jewel in the club’s crown and, after Koeman’s derisory comments regarding the calibre of the players within the youth set-up, a manager like Puel with a different outlook on youth should provide better opportunities for academy players.

With Saints heading into the Europa League group stages next term, Puel also brings with him wide European competition experience.

Former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini had been the supporters’ favourite for the Saints role and was considered by the club’s hierarchy – but they felt he did not fully fit in with what the club wanted after talks with the Chilean, who won the Premier League and two League Cups at the Etihad Stadium.

It was a similar situation earlier in the hiring process with ex-Roma and Lille boss Rudi Garcia, while Eddie Howe was discussed but also etched off the club’s shortlist with both parties said to be uncomfortable with the sensitivities of a move along the south coast from Cherries.

Vítor Pereira was also on the shortlist for some while before he ruled himself out of a move away from Fenerbahce.

Puel, though, was the one to most impress, with a CV that clearly suits Saints’ needs.

During his time at Lyon he took the Ligue 1 giants to a Champions League semi-final for the very first time.

As well as that he led a youthful Lille side to a 2-0 win at AC Milan – helping them become the first side ever to win at the San Siro.

While at Les Dogues he became one of the longest serving managers in French football – spending six years in charge at Stade Pierre-Mauroy between 2002 and 2008.

His lengthy stint at Lille came after success with Monaco, who he played for through his entire career and where he was elevated from reserve team to first team boss in 1998.

It was there as a player where he was taken under Wenger’s wing and was encouraged to go into coaching.

As manager at the Stade Louis II club he won the French league and brought a flamboyant, free-scoring style of football.

During his four-season spell at Nice, his team was recognised for a style of play that would have attracted the Saints hierarchy.

Almost in a similar vein to Pochettino, Puel is said to like a high pressing game that features quick, zippy passing.

A 3-5-2 formation or a 4-1-2-1-2 is reported to be what he has favoured at Nice – although he did implement a 4-2-3-1 formation at Lille which could be easily adapted to a 4-4-2.