BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl believes former Saints star Oriol Romeu has “all the attributes” to be a “fantastic” manager – if he decides to take that path in his career. Asked whether he would see Romeu as a potential manager in the future,
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “For sure. If you want to go this road, which is sometimes a very stressful one, he has all the attributes for being a fantastic one. He knows how to work. He’s an absolute professional. He has also the sensibility, that you need to have to work with people. He’s a very warm-hearted man but with the professionalism you need to have. With the knowledge also, after his long career, I think it’s a very good fundament for building maybe on the next career – if he wants to.”
Romeu appeared 126 times under Hasenhuttl during his time at Saints – more than any other manager he has worked with. And the Saints boss did not even rule out a return for the midfielder, in a different capacity to playing in the future. Quizzed on whether he had ever spoken to Romeu about management,
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “Yeah, sure. I tell you very honestly that we will never let him go (as a player), if he didn’t come to us and say that he wants to. Because I said, such a player you always have to keep in your club. Who has done so much for you, who is so close to the fans and made so many positive things for this club. With the football knowledge he has, you need to keep him in the club for what position, ever. I am sure there is coming maybe a time, one time when he is coming back here in a different position.”
One thing Romeu and Hasenhuttl did share a keen interest in away from football was tennis – the pair having previously battled on court with each other. Asked whether the Spaniard had ever beaten him, Hasenhuttl, who once had a go at being a semi-professional tennis player in Munich
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “No. That’s the reason why he has to come back one time!”
