How Ralph Hasenhuttl Is Using the Lockdown Period to Plan for Southampton's Future

Footballers have spent their time off structured club training in a variety of ways. 

Some have juggled toilet roll, others have choreographed dance routines with their other halves, and one has snuck off to visit Ross McCormack.

Southampton manager ​Ralf Hasenhuttl meanwhile has not wasted a second, instead using his spare time to stamp his identity on the club.

According to the ​Daily Echo, Hasenhuttl has developed a training scheme for the entire club to enable academy players to become accustomed to his playing style.

This will see all age groups take on the same training methods as the first team, making the transition into senior football from the academy easier.

The youngest age groups currently play possession based football, but with Hasenhuttl's project, labelled 'iBook', they will instead progress to playing without the ball.

The St Mary's hierarchy are also on board with the idea, and therefore should ​the Saints boss depart the club, the foundations he is building would not be rendered useless.

They see Hasenhuttl's plan as key to the vision that they have for the future of the club.

Southampton have a proud history of bringing through academy players, with the likes of ​Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and ​Luke Shaw passing through the ranks at St Mary's.

With the successful implementation of Hasenhuttl's training scheme, this should increase the number of academy prospects breaking into the first team.

Academy coaches will be given access to training videos and analysis, allowing them to get a flavour of what the Southampton boss wants from his teams.

The Austrian has been aiming to synchronise the Saints' first team and academy's playing style for some time, but has never had the opportunity to put his plan into practice due to the heavy Premier League schedule.

However, the suspension due to the coronavirus has enabled him to do so. His meticulous approach during the break has extended to his transfer dealings, with Hasenhuttl also using the time off to study scouting reports and footage.