Southampton

German

Johannes Spors

Group Technical Director

Was Global Sporting Director of the 777 Group, which had tried to buy Everton, before joining Southampton in February 2025. Also held senior roles at RB Leipzig, Vitesse Arnhem and Genoa. Will ensure “a cohesive approach to football strategy, player development and performance” and also oversee Sport Republic’s other two clubs, Valenciennes in France and Goztepe in Turkey.

English

Elliott Stapley

Assistant Technical Director

Assists Spors with recruitment strategy and long-term squad development. Previously Head of Technical Scouting and Analysis for 777 Group, where he worked alongside Spors.

English

Mark Bitcon

Director of Football Operations

German

Tonda Eckert

Head Coach

Promoted from role of U21s Coach and put in temporary charge in early November 2025 after the departure of Head Coach Will Still. Confirmed as permanent Head Coach a month later. Only joined the club in the summer of 2025 after previously working as Assistant First Team Coach at Genoa. Has also coached in the Academies at Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.

English

Ben Garner

Assistant

Started coaching career at Crystal Palace Academy in 2004, working way through the age groups to become First Team Coach. After more than a decade with the Eagles, was Assistant at West Brom (2015 to 2018) and at Indian outfit ATK (2018/19). A move into management followed, with Bristol Rovers (2019/20), Swindon (2021/22), Charlton (2022) and Colchester United (2023). Was Head Coach of Right to Dream’s International Academy before joining Saints in January 2026.

English

Jeremy Newton

First Team Coach

Promoted from the U21s set-up (where he was Transition Coach) in November 2025 to work with then-Interim Head Coach Tonda Eckert. Job was made permanent at the end of 2025.

English

Ben Reeves

First Team Coach

Former Southampton Academy graduate who went on to work with the club’s over-aged U21 players as Individual Development Coach. Promoted to first team with Eckert, at first on an interim basis and then permanently. 

English

Ryan Flood

Goalkeeper Coach

Promoted from U21s set-up in November 2025 to work with Eckert. Role with 21s was Goalkeeper and Set Piece Coach.

English

Albert Jones

Analyst

Promoted from the U21s (where he was Coach-Analyst) in November 2025 to work with Eckert. 

English

Tom Barnden

Head of Performance

Appointed in September 2023 and hugely experienced, having worked for Coventry City, Tottenham, Brighton, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Swansea City. Longest stint was with Brighton, for seven years, where he became Physical Performance Manager. Promoted from Head of Sports Science to Head of Performance by Saints in November 2024.

English

Bill Styles

Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach

Experienced practitioner. Assistant to Kenny McMillan at Celtic before moving to Southampton.

English

Malcolm Frame

Performance Psychologist

Has been working as a consultant at the club for two decades. Key in setting up the Learning Lab.

Spanish

Inigo Sarriegui

Head Doctor

Replaced Thamindu Wedatilake as first team doctor in July 2019. Had previously worked with the Academy since 2015 and with Team Sky.

English

Steve Wright

Head of Professional Medical Services

Moved to St Mary’s in 2014 from West Brom as Senior Physio. Job title changed to Head of Medical Services for the Professional Phase in 2018.

English

Neil Simms

Lead Performance Physio

Head Physio at Nottingham Forest from 2017 to 2022 before joining Southampton. Has also worked at West Brom and Bristol City.

English

Katie Herbert

Sports Therapist

Academy sports therapist at AFC Bournemouth until September 2022, where she then joined Southampton.

English

Ian Kirkham

Physio

Academy physio at Portsmouth, Ospreys Rugby, Welsh Rugby Union, and the first team at Southampton since 2014. 

English

Luke Thomas

Physio

Joined from Birmingham City in March 2018 and promoted to the first team in October 2021.

English

Fraser McKinney

Rehab Lead

Joined Saints in February 2021 and has also worked for West Brom, Newcastle Falcons Rugby and British Basketball.

Italian

Gianni Fenu

Soft Tissue Therapist

Joined from Huddersfield in 2016. Has extensive experience in rugby league, having worked for Bradford Bull and Leeds Rhinos.

English

Chris Lovegrove

Therapist

Long-standing member of staff. Explains in this video how the department has changed during his time at the club.

English

Jack Curson

Sports Therapist

Joined club in 2017 after five years with Reading.

Welsh

Lewis Mahoney

Set Piece Analyst

Joined from Bristol Rovers, where he held the same role, in December 2023. Also previously worked for Swansea City for almost two years.

English

Nathan Hurst

Head of Performance Analysis

At the club since July 2015, and has worked his way up through the analysis department to his current role as head, which he’s held since April 2024.

English

Joe Ferrelly

Head of Data & Research

Employed by owners Sport Republic, working for both Southampton and Goztepe in Turkey. Focuses on recruitment but also responsible for “building and developing advanced proprietary data models to support decision-making across all departments”, including coaching, player development, sport science and medical. Joined in June 2023 after four years as Data Analyst at Everton.