Southampton Close to Appointing Will Still as Head Coach
Southampton FC are on the verge of appointing Will Still as their new head coach, according to sources close to the club. Talks between Still and the Saints are at an advanced stage and progressing well, although a formal agreement has yet to be put in place.
The 32-year-old Still is set to lead Southampton in the Championship next season, should a deal be finalised. If completed in time, he may even be in attendance at St Mary’s on Sunday for the club’s final Premier League game of the season against Arsenal.
Johannes Spors, Southampton’s technical director, has been leading the club’s search for a new head coach to replace Ivan Juric, who was sacked in April following the team’s relegation from the Premier League. Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl was also considered for the role, but Still has emerged as the preferred candidate.
Still confirmed on Saturday that he would be leaving French club Lens and returning to the United Kingdom. In a statement, he cited personal reasons for his decision, saying it was a "logical choice" to be closer to his wife, Emma Saunders, a TV presenter on Sky Sports. Saunders had revealed in March that she had been diagnosed with encephalitis, a brain infection.
According to The Athletic, Southampton have been without a permanent head coach since sacking Juric, who had replaced Russell Martin in December but managed just one win in 14 Premier League matches. First-team coach Simon Rusk was appointed interim manager until the end of the season, assisted by Adam Lallana.
Still, who was born in Belgium to English parents, has spent his entire professional career working in Belgian and French clubs. His managerial career began at Lierse, aged just 24, where he previously served as assistant coach and video analyst. He went on to manage Beerschot, Reims, and Lens, winning 16 of his 37 matches in charge of the French side and overseeing an eighth-place finish in Ligue 1.
As reported by The Athletic, Still signed a three-year contract with Lens in June 2024 but left after just one season at the helm. His potential appointment as Southampton’s head coach would mark a significant return to the UK for the young manager.
The news of Still’s potential appointment has generated excitement among Southampton fans, who are eager to see a new era begin at the club. With his impressive managerial pedigree and experience working in top-level European football, Still may be the man to lead the Saints back to the Premier League.
The Athletic understands that Still’s family situation was a key factor in his decision to leave Lens and return to the UK. His partner, Emma Saunders, has been open about her health struggles, and Still has expressed a desire to be closer to her during this challenging time.
While a formal agreement is yet to be signed, it appears that Will Still is on the brink of becoming Southampton’s new head coach. As the club prepares for a new era in the Championship, fans will be keeping a close eye on developments and hoping that Still can lead the team to success.
