A choice every Southampton manager has taken this season.

Everyone from Ralph Hasenhüttl, Nathan Jones and Reuben Selles has made mistakes in what is admittedly very difficult work.

All three have a philosophy of staying in the game for 60 minutes and then trying to win at the end of the competition.

Whether they would be more successful on any other occasion remains to be seen, but the sight of an attacking team would certainly grab the fans’ attention.

However, in each term of office, the light began to shine. During the campaign, we selected one from each coach.

Ralph Hasenhutl – Romeo Latvia

Hasenhüttl’s strengths have always been a perfect fit for what the Saints hoped to accomplish over the past four years.

He chose to use 18-year-old Tino Livramento against Kyle Walker-Peters just 45 minutes into the final preseason, revealing a diamond.

Hasenhüttl has caught the attention of Romeo Lavia this season as the former Manchester City teenager played every minute until he suffered an injury in August.

It became quite clear that Lavia was a serious talent and the club reluctantly hurt Hasenhüttl by selling Oriol Romeu after the Belgian was dropped.

Looking back at the midfield trio of Lavia, Romeu and captain James Ward-Prowse, you have to wonder what could have been.

Although Lavia only played 56 minutes under Hasenhüttl – after recovering from injury in the final against the Austrian – he played superbly.

The youngster could be sold this season, but if he does, the club will receive a bonus of around 400% of the amount they bought him from Etihad Stadium for.

It could also be said that Hasenhüttl’s best decision was to fold a five in just 135 minutes of play, but he shouldn’t have started like that at all.

Nathan Jones — James Ward Prowse

Former Luton Town boss Jones will unfortunately be remembered as one of the most underperforming managers in Premier League history.

His 12.5 percent winning percentage consists of just one win and seven losses in eight games he survived before being fired in February.

But a key player under the Welsh has improved markedly with captain James Ward-Prowse back in prominence.

Forced into a more defensive midfield role – inevitable under Hasenhüttl, then naïve under Selles – Jones unleashed England.

Ward-Prowse has scored four of seven Premier League goals this season under Jones and has been number 10 forward.

True, only one of them – in a double with Everton – fell on an open game, but Captain Jones revived from the first run.

One of Jones’ first jobs was to pick up Ward-Prowse after he was denied entry to a second consecutive international tournament with the Three Lions.

Ward-Prowse is Southampton’s best player and his best game this season belongs to Jones.

Ruben Sales – Jan Bednarek

Even more so than the last two bosses, it’s hard to find anything exemplary in terms of tactical or organizational success – such is the nature of the season.

Spain coach Selles opted for a defensive first approach similar to his idol Rafa Benítez, and things started from a relatively promising start.

Although Bednarek was recalled under Jones in January, we saw Poland’s best players under Selles.

The 27-year-old’s career with the Saints was thought to have come to an end, but fans now believe he is a serious contender for the captaincy if he stays at the club next season.

Bednarek played every minute he was available under Selles, conceding just one goal in the manager’s first four games.

Unfortunately, the floodgates have since opened and the Saints have conceded 18 goals in their last eight league games and will almost certainly face relegation.

Charlie Alcaraz was also a revelation during Selles’ tenure, but that’s almost in spite of Selles, not because of Selles. Take, for example, Arsenal.