Pellegrino named as Leganes manager

(Reuters) - Former Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino was named as the new boss of Spanish Liga side Leganes on Saturday.

It is the 46-year-old's first job since being sacked by the Saints after an underwhelming nine-month spell with the English Premier League side who went on to narrowly avoid relegation under Pellegrino's successor Mark Hughes by finishing 17th.

The Argentine has been handed a one-year contract at Leganes for what will be his third spell in Spain after also managing Alaves and Valencia.

Last season Madrid-based Leganes finished fourth from bottom -- albeit 14 points clear of the relegation zone -- under Asier Garitano, who has since joined Real Sociedad.

(Reporting by Neil Robinson; Editing by Ken Ferris)