When Mauricio Pochettino arrived at Southampton at the start of 2013 questions were raised about the appointment, but in his 16 months at the club the Argentine managed to turn the Saints into a top-eight Premier League side.

His departure to Tottenham Hotspur has seen Southampton linked with a number of major names in European football, while a select number of bosses already working in England have also been rumoured to be under consideration.

Below, Sports Mole assesses the frontrunners for the position, as well as judging which coach would be best suited to continuing the philosophy that Pochettino has introduced at St Mary's Stadium.

1. Ronald Koeman

After an illustrious playing career, Ronald Koeman was a sought-after name when he made his managerial bow with Vitesse Arnhem and despite a couple of questionable spells on the touchline, the Dutchman remains popular around Europe.

The majority of his success has come in Holland with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven respectively, and despite failing to deliver a trophy during his three-year period with Feyenoord, the 51-year-old will leave the club during the summer with his reputation enhanced.

His departure has seen him linked with a number of outfits around the continent, but with his attack-minded philosophy and desire to succeed in England at some stage of his career, linking up with Southampton could be best for all involved.

Koeman has won 56% of his matches and scored an average of over two goals a game over a career spanning 514 fixtures, and with the former Netherlands international likely to be in it for the long haul should he be given the job at Southampton, he could take the Saints to the next level.

2. Roberto Mancini

After his departure from Galatasaray, Roberto Mancini has emerged as one of the leading names with the bookies, and it would be a hard task finding a Southampton supporter that wouldn't welcome the appointment of the Italian.

However, while Mancini would undoubtedly bring experience as well as a successful record to the Saints should he be appointed, the fear would remain that the former Manchester City chief is using the job as a stop-gap until a more lucrative opportunity arises.

Mancini has won at least one trophy in each of his five managerial positions, but what Southampton need is someone who sees his long-term future at the club and won't be tempted into seeking pastures new if they can't improve on this year's eighth-place finish.

With the right additions, Mancini could potentially have Southampton competing for a top-six place, but with the next manager needing to find the balance between signing new players and nurturing talent through the academy, the South Coast club could avoid appointing the 49-year-old.

3. Claudio Ranieri

Despite his exit from Chelsea coming a decade ago Claudio Ranieri remains a popular name in England, and if he managed to secure the Southampton job he would likely receive a warm welcome from fans of the Saints.

However, despite being handed six lucrative jobs since his departure from Stamford Bridge, Ranieri's sole triumph came in the French second division, and while he has an established reputation within European football, he isn't the kind of manager that is associated with a club who doesn't hold league title ambitions.

Ranieri holds the impressive statistic of winning over 40% of his matches with each of his last seven clubs, and he only lost nine fixtures during a 75-game spell with Monaco, but the Italian wouldn't be a good fit for the Saints.

His arrival could potentially see some of the club's departing English stars replaced with reputable players from around the globe who don't possess Premier League experience, and like with Mancini, he would always be a name linked with a move away from the South Coast.

4. Steve Bruce

When reports emerged that talks had stalled with Koeman, it was reported that Southampton were considering an approach for Hull City's Steve Bruce after he guided the Tigers to the FA Cup final last season.

Bruce also made some astute acquisitions to ensure that Hull were never under any serious threat from suffering relegation back to the Championship, but despite the success, Bruce's team have been moulded in a different way to the current setup at Southampton.

The former Sunderland and Wigan Athletic boss has gotten the most out of his squad, but it would be questionable whether his style of play would fit in well with what the Saints players have become accustomed to over the past 16 months.

Southampton will be looking for someone to develop a growing side, not make drastic changes to a formula that worked under Pochettino, and Bruce should remain at Hull as they prepare for their first opportunity of Europa League football.

Verdict

While all four men would potentially be welcomed to Southampton with open arms, the arrival of Koeman is the only appointment that makes sense for both parties.

Much like Michael Laudrup did with Swansea City, Koeman can employ a brand of football that would be appreciated by the club's hierarchy and supporters alike and while changes may be made in terms of personnel, the style of play at St Mary's would remain the same.

Another name may be included on the shortlist before an announcement is made, but with the above four names believed to be in the running, the appointment of Koeman would give Southampton the best chance of progressing to the next level.