Southampton boss Tonda Eckert is on VfB Stuttgart’s shortlist as Real Madrid consider a move for Sebastian Hoeness, according to Bild.
Southampton have embarked on a remarkable turnaround of their season in 2026. The Saints were cut adrfit from the Championship promotion fight but are firmly in the hunt with only two games left to play.
Tonda Eckert has revived the side at St. Mary’s leading them up to 4th and to an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City. His Saints outfit are unbeaten since January 17th, and the German rookie has earned wide praise for his work.
Reports have said Eckert has interest from Germany and Italy, but now, one of his admirers has been named. According to a report from Bild, the 33-year-old is on the shortlist of Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart.
The German news outlet states Stuttgart are considering Southampton boss Eckert as a potential successor for Sebastian Hoeness. He is being lined up for a number of top jobs, with Real Madrid monitoring his situation amid doubts over Alvaro Arbeloa’s future.
Tonda Eckert’s Southampton success has not gone unnoticed
It has been impossible to ignore Southampton’s success under Eckert. They were touted for success in pre-season but Will Still‘s appointment did not yield the results desired, resulting in his sacking.
Ultimately, we’ll never know whether Still could’ve got more out of his group as the season progressed. However, Saints fans will not care one bit, as Eckert has transformed their campaign and brought enjoyable football back to St. Mary’s.
Southampton haven’t only turned their season around, but they’ve done it in style too. FA Cup wins over Premier League pair Fulham and Arsenal have emphasised both the ability and confidence within this group, and that is down to the management of Eckert.
It is little wonder clubs have taken note, especially in Germany. Eckert started his coaching career in his native and worked in the national team setup alongside academies of RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, crossing paths with new Bournemouth boss Marco Rose, amongst others.
Tonda Eckert’s record as permanent Southampton boss
| Games | W | D | L | PPG |
| 30 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 2.13 |
Could Southampton need promotion to keep Tonda Eckert?
Eckert signed a contract until 2027 upon his permanent appointment at Southampton. It is not known whether a release fee is in place, but his situation is catching the eye.
Promotion can be key to keeping star players, and the Saints may well be in that position with their manager. If a top Bundesliga side like Stuttgart come calling, it could prove a move tough to turn down for Eckert if his current team can’t rise to the Premier League.
Regardless of how this season ends, you would expect Southampton to offer Eckert a long-term contract. But, without promotion, there could be more attractive opportunities elsewhere.
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