Southampton Nears Appointment of Will Still as Manager Following Relegation

Southampton are close to appointing Will Still, the 32-year-old Lens head coach, as their new manager following the club's relegation from the Premier League and the departure of Ivan Juric. Still, who has made a rapid rise through the coaching ranks in Belgium and France, including becoming the youngest manager in Europe's top five leagues with Reims, has announced his decision to leave Lens primarily for personal reasons, to be closer to his partner Emma Saunders who is recovering from encephalitis. The club is reportedly finalizing the appointment, with verbal agreements in place and discussion ongoing about his backroom staff, potentially before Southampton's final Premier League game against Arsenal. Negotiations remain complex due to Still's contract with Lens running until 2027, with compensation likely required for his release. Southampton had also considered Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl but favored Still, who brings experience of leading Lens to an eighth-place Ligue 1 finish and is expected to spearhead the club's bid to return to the Premier League. Still's journey into management began in England with Preston North End's academy and progressed through roles in Belgium and France, underscoring his reputation as one of Europe's brightest young managerial talents.