2015–16 Southampton F.C. season
Southampton F.C. 2015–16 football season / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2015–16 Southampton F.C. season was the club's 17th season in the Premier League and their 39th in the top division of English football.[1][2] It was also the club's first season in a European competition since 2003–04.[3] Southampton finished the season in sixth place in the Premier League, having won 18, drawn 9 and lost 11 of their 38 matches.[4] This result is the highest club finish in the Premier League and the highest Premier League points total (63) in the club's history.[5] Aside from the league, the club was eliminated from the third round of the FA Cup,[6] the fifth round of the League Cup,[7] and the qualifying play-off round of the UEFA Europa League.[8]
2015–16 season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Ralph Krueger | |||
Manager | Ronald Koeman | |||
Stadium | St Mary's Stadium | |||
Premier League | 6th | |||
FA Cup | Third round | |||
League Cup | Fifth round | |||
UEFA Europa League | Play-off round | |||
Top goalscorer | League: Graziano Pellè Sadio Mané (11 each) All: Sadio Mané (15) | |||
Highest home attendance | 31,688 vs Chelsea (27 February 2016) | |||
Lowest home attendance | 28,399 vs Watford (13 January 2016) | |||
Average home league attendance | 30,750 | |||
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Following the end of the 2014–15 campaign, Southampton released seven first team players.[9][10] The club also sold right-back Nathaniel Clyne to Liverpool,[11] midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin to Manchester United,[12] and striker Emmanuel Mayuka to French side Metz.[13] Three players were sent out on season-long loans to Football League sides – Sam Gallagher to Milton Keynes Dons,[14] Jack Stephens to Middlesbrough,[15] and Jordan Turnbull to Swindon Town[16] – while Jason McCarthy and Lloyd Isgrove were sent out on loans until January.[17][18]
In the summer transfer window, the Saints made seven full signings – striker Juanmi from Málaga,[19] right-backs Cédric Soares and Cuco Martina from Sporting CP and FC Twente, respectively,[20][21] midfielder Jordy Clasie from Feyenoord,[22] defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu from Chelsea,[23] goalkeeper Harry Lewis from Shrewsbury Town,[24] and centre-back Virgil van Dijk from Celtic.[13] The club also brought in Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and Queens Park Rangers centre-back Steven Caulker on season-long loans.[25][26]
In January 2016, the club signed striker Charlie Austin from Queens Park Rangers.[27] Caulker's loan agreement was cut short to allow him to move to Liverpool,[28] while both Gallagher and Stephens returned to Southampton early.[29] Also loaned out were Sam McQueen to Southend United,[30] Gastón Ramírez to Middlesbrough,[31] Ryan Seager to Crewe Alexandra,[32] and Stephens to Coventry City,[33] while Isgrove's loan spell at Barnsley was extended until the end of the season.[34] In addition, young goalkeeper Harry Isted was released.[35]
Senegalese forward Sadio Mané finished the 2015–16 season as Southampton's top scorer, with 15 goals in all competitions; Mané and Italian striker Graziano Pellè finished as joint top scorers in the Premier League, with 11 goals each. Irish striker Shane Long won the fan-voted Southampton F.C. Player of the Season award presented by the Southern Daily Echo,[36] while Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk won the Fans' and Players' Player of the Season awards presented by the club.[37] Saints manager Ronald Koeman won the Premier League Manager of the Month award in January 2016,[38] while goalkeeper Fraser Forster won the Premier League Player of the Month award in February 2016.[39]