Former Premier League boss Ralph Hasenhuttl closing in on return to management after almost 18 months unemployed

FORMER Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl looks set to return to management with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, according to reports.

The Austrian, 56, has been out of work since he was sacked by Saints in November 2022.

Ralph Hasenhuttl was sacked by Southampton in November 2022AFP

But now he is poised to get back into coaching as Wolfsburg prepare to appoint him as Niko Kovac’s successor.

Kovac, 52, was sacked by the German club following Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at home to Augsburg.

According to Kicker, Hasenhuttl could lead training as soon as Tuesday, with talks at an “advanced” stage.

Wolfsburg have not won any of their last 10 games since beating Schalke on January 6.

They are languishing in 14th place in the Bundesliga, six points above the relegation play-off place.

Hasenhuttl’s first match in charge of the club is expected to be at home to Werder Bremen on March 30.

He last managed in the Bundesliga when he was head coach of RB Leipzig between July 2016 and May 2018.

Hasenhuttl departed with an impressive 40 wins, 19 draws and just 24 defeats from 83 matches.

And he led the club into the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Prior to his time with Leipzig, he also achieved promotion to the Bundesliga with FC Ingolstadt.

He won 59 of 173 games with Southampton across nearly four years on the South Coast.

He was previously linked with joining German side Hoffenheim in February 2023 before the club opted to appoint American Pellegrino Matarazzo.