Hughes has previously played for the club for two seasons.
Southampton have announced that Mark Hughes will become their First Team Manager following the sacking of Mauricio Pellegrino on Monday.
The Saints currently sit one point and one place above the relegation zone, and have won only once in their last 17 league games. Hughes will take charge at least until the end of the season.
In a club statement Mark Hughes has said: “It’s a challenge I’m excited by. It’s a great opportunity to come back to a club I know well, and a club I’ve got real affinity with, and I couldn’t turn that down.
“I bring experience of the Premier League. I understand what it takes in this league to win games. But first and foremost I think it’s about coming in and maybe being that different voice, that different message from myself and the staff, that will enable the players to recognise and focus on what needs to be done in this key period of the season.
“The objective clearly is to remain in the league and make sure we’re a Premier League club next year. That’s where this club needs to be, that’s where it should be, and that’s our intention to make sure it remains there.”
He has eight games left to keep the South-coast club from relegation.