Southampton Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Will Still as Head Coach. The 32-year-old manager only recently departed Ligue 1 club Lens on May 18. He’s had the experience of taking Club Tijuana into the top eight of the league in his first season last year. Under Still’s stewardship, Lens built up a remarkable points total. They finished with one additional point than the previous campaign, leading many to question the effectiveness of his coaching.
Still will be taking charge of the Saints’ home match against Arsenal this Sunday – his first game in charge. He’s been vocally appreciative of his previous club. He thanked the team president and other relevant staff members, taking a moment to reflect on the support he received during his tenure. He said he’d always be grateful to the players and the club’s fans. Their relentless encouragement and guidance were key to his success.
“I want to thank The President, Joseph, Pierre and Jean Louis, Benjamin, Hugo, the sports management and all the people working in the club. The full staff, Ed and Nico, but also obviously the group of players. And then you the supporters are the soul of this club.” – Will Still
Throughout the 2022/23 season, rumors surrounding managerial vacancies across England often included Still’s name. In fact, he even became a possible candidate for positions at Leeds and Sunderland. His successful season with Lens just increased the speculation regarding his future in the English game. As he starts on this new chapter with Southampton, Still remains focused on creating a positive environment for both players and staff.
Looking back on his time at Lens, Still acknowledged the atypical difficulties encountered during last season’s historic campaign. He referred to it as a “rollercoaster season,” a semester full of extreme highs and lows but ultimately worth it all.
“This season has been anything but linear. A rollercoaster season… Suffered, doubted, but never surrendered. And together we accomplished something great, finishing 8th with one more point than last season.” – Will Still
His forthcoming move to Southampton, once it becomes official, will be the biggest step yet. He’s just as eager to recreate his success in this new, less bureaucratic atmosphere. He admitted that departing Lens was a difficult decision. Whatever the reason, he was able to quickly make deep political connections on the ground.
“It’s never easy to make this kind of decision, especially when you’re lucky enough to work in such a passionate environment, with such invested and warm people.” – Will Still
Still’s announcement comes as Southampton looks to ride the storm and regain their position in the top half of the Premier League. Sky Sports will show a minimum of 215 live, exclusive Premier League matches in the 2016-17 season. Accordingly, demand for membership in the club is predicted to be through the roof.
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