Ahead of both league matches with Wednesday this season, Eckert has publicly laid out his admiration for 48 year old Danish coach Pedersen.
Pedersen worked a lengthy stint at Red Bull Salzburg’s successful academy until 2014, before moving to Union Berlin as assistant manager in 2016.
Eckert, born and raised in Berlin, later also worked for Austrian outfit Salzburg, although he never directly crossed paths with the Owls boss.
But he followed Pedersen’s career, watching on as he joined Wednesday as Danny Rohl’s number two before assuming control from the German in 2025.
The respect is not one-way, with Pedersen praising Eckert’s performance in his first-ever senior managerial job, taking over at 21st-place Saints.
Pedersen, speaking after his side’s 3-1 home defeat to Saints, said: “We have two very, very different jobs, but Southampton is not easy.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen (Image: PA)
“He has developed his team to make a winning team again, by bringing this mentality again to win football games after last year, when they lost a lot.
“It’s a very difficult thing he has changed. Style of play, big respect. They’re one of the most difficult presses to play against. It’s so well organised.
“They have a lot of top individual players, but to bring them together to have this clear, clear strategy on the ball, I can only give him the biggest respect.
“As a young manager, to not only take over this job and create this with those results, but also how he creates those results with such a clear identity.”
Saints are unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions, while their eight-game run in the league is their longest since the club record 22 in 2023/24.
After the Hillsborough clash, Eckert said: “I think Henrik is doing an unbelievable job. I know how hard it is. Well, I can only imagine how hard it is.
“I would like to give a huge compliment not just to him but also to the entire football club. I think in the situation it’s not easy for anybody.”