Will Still has become one of the most talked-about figures in English football after his appointment as Southampton head coach. At 33, he brings a decade of coaching experience and an unusual path that began in the video analysis room rather than on the pitch. This article examines his background, career, personal life, and what his arrival means for the south coast club.
Still’s story is a modern football anomaly. He never played professionally beyond youth level, yet by age 30 he was the youngest head coach in Europe’s top five leagues. His move to Southampton in May 2025, confirmed permanently in July 2026, returns him to England after a successful spell in France.
For fans and analysts alike, the key questions centre on who he is, how he reached this level, and what the future holds for a manager who has often been described as a “Football Manager success story.”
Who Is Will Still? – Age, Nationality, and Background
Will Still, full name William Still, was born on 14 October 1992 in Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium, to English parents. He holds dual English and Belgian nationality and grew up in the Walloon region before moving to England at age 17 to study football coaching at Myerscough College.
Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 33 (born 14 October 1992) |
| Nationality | English / Belgian (dual) |
| Current Role | Head Coach of Southampton FC |
| Notable For | Youngest manager in top 5 European leagues (Reims) |
Key Insights
- Still rose from a Football Manager enthusiast to a professional football manager, becoming the youngest head coach in Ligue 1 at Reims.
- He was appointed Southampton manager in May 2025 on a three-year contract, returning to English football after a successful stint in France.
- Still’s coaching philosophy emphasises high pressing and tactical flexibility, shaped by his unconventional path to management.
- His personal life remains relatively private, but his partner Emma Saunders and two brothers, Edward and Nicolas, are known connections in his circle.
- He is fluent in French and Dutch, languages he developed while growing up in Belgium.
- Still holds a UEFA A Licence and typically uses a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Snapshot Facts
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Still |
| Date of Birth | 14 October 1992 |
| Place of Birth | Belgium (grew up in England) |
| Nationality | English / Belgian (dual) |
| Playing Career | Youth at Reading; did not play professionally beyond youth level |
| Coaching Career Start | Assistant coach at Preston North End (2015) |
| First Head Coach Role | Stade de Reims (2022) |
| Current Club | Southampton FC (appointed May 2025) |
| Contract Duration | Until 30 June 2028 (3 years) |
| Spouse | Emma Saunders (sports journalist) |
| Sibling | Two brothers: Edward Still and Nicolas Still |
Who Does Will Still Manage? – Current Role at Southampton
Will Still was appointed head coach of Southampton FC in May 2025, initially on an interim basis, before a permanent three-year contract was confirmed in July 2026. The deal runs until 30 June 2028, according to official club sources and Transfermarkt.
He replaced Ivan Juric, who left in April 2026 after the club’s relegation from the Premier League to the Championship. Still’s primary task is to return Southampton to the top flight. He was present at the club’s final match of the 2025-26 season against Arsenal, as reported by BBC Sport.
Sources indicate that Still’s first connection to Southampton came in May 2025 as an interim manager. The Wikipedia list of Southampton managers shows a brief tenure from May 2025 to November 2025 (16 games, 25% win rate), followed by Tonda Eckert. However, the official announcement and permanent contract were confirmed in 2026. The earlier temporary spell may have been superseded by the permanent deal.
Contract Details
Still signed a three-year deal with Southampton, running until 30 June 2028. His salary has not been publicly disclosed, but the contract positions him as the long-term leader of the club’s project to rebuild after relegation.
What Is Will Still’s Football Management Story?
Still’s career began far from the spotlight. He started as a video analyst and performance analyst at Belgian clubs Sint-Truiden and Standard Liège, according to his official Southampton FC profile.
Early Steps and First Managerial Role
By age 24, Still became manager of Lierse in the Belgian second tier, leading them on a seven-match winning streak. This early success caught the attention of clubs in France.
Breakthrough at Reims
In October 2022, at age 30, he was appointed head coach of Stade de Reims in Ligue 1, making him the youngest head coach in Europe’s top five leagues. He won 25 of his 65 games (38%) before departing in May 2024.
RC Lens and Return to England
Still joined RC Lens in June 2024 on a three-year contract, guiding them to an 8th-place finish in Ligue 1. He stepped down in May 2026 to return to England, citing the move to be closer to his partner and family links to the region, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Still has spoken about how he played Football Manager obsessively as a teenager, which sparked his interest in tactics and management. He later became a real-life manager, often described as “a Football Manager success story.” This narrative has made him a popular figure in analytics-focused football circles.
Will Still’s Personal Life: Wife, Brother, and Family
Still’s personal life is relatively private, but several details have emerged through media reports and official club announcements.
Partner: Emma Saunders
His partner is Emma Saunders, a sports journalist who has worked for Sky Sports and the BBC. Sources refer to her as his partner; they have not publicly announced a marriage, though some media outlets have used the term “wife.” Still moved back to England to be closer to her, according to BBC Sport.
Brothers: Edward and Nicolas Still
Still has two brothers, Edward Still and Nicolas Still, both of whom served as members of his backroom staff at RC Lens and moved with him to Southampton to join his coaching team, as confirmed by Yahoo Sports.
Some sources have confused the names of Still’s brothers, with one translation referring to “Edward” as “Nicolas” and vice versa. Reliable reporting identifies both Edward Still and Nicolas Still as his siblings, but the exact roles of each have not been consistently documented.
How Did Will Still’s Career Progress Over Time?
- 1992 – Born in Belgium to English parents.
- 2015 – Begins coaching as an assistant at Preston North End.
- 2018 – Moves to Ligue 1 as an assistant at Reims.
- 2022 – Appointed interim head coach, then permanent, becoming youngest manager in top 5 European leagues.
- 2024 – Leaves Reims after two and a half seasons.
- May 2025 – Appointed manager of Southampton FC, initially interim, later permanent.
- July 2026 – Signed a three-year contract until 2028.
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About Will Still?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Will Still is married to Emma Saunders, a BBC sports journalist. | The exact name and details of his brother have not been confirmed in all reliable sources. |
| He was born in 1992 and holds English and Belgian nationalities. | His precise net worth is unknown and not publicly verified. |
| He is the current manager of Southampton, appointed in May 2025. | Whether the Football Manager game story is fully accurate or partially mythologised. |
Why Is Will Still’s Career Story So Unusual?
Will Still’s career is a modern football anomaly – he never played professionally above youth level but progressed through assistant roles to become a top-flight manager. His story resonates with fans of the Football Manager video game, where he famously built a reputation as a virtual manager before transitioning to real-life coaching. The Southampton appointment marks a return to English football after a successful period in France, where he impressed by steering Reims to mid-table finishes with an attractive style of play. Still’s coaching style is often described as data-driven and tactically adaptive, making him a popular figure in analytics-focused football circles.
What Do Official Sources Say About Will Still?
“Read an in-depth profile on the career of Southampton Football Club’s new Men’s First Team Manager Will Still.”
“William Still (born 14 October 1992) is a professional football manager who is the head coach of Ligue 1 club Auxerre.”
“Date of birth/Age: 14/10/1992 (33) · Citizenship: England · Appointed: 01/07/2026 · Contract until: 30/06/2028”
What Is the Takeaway on Will Still’s Appointment?
Will Still, now 33, brings a decade of professional experience, a record of breaking youth appointments, and a data-driven approach to Southampton. His task is to lead the club back to the Premier League from the Championship, a challenge he has embraced after a successful career in France. His unconventional path from video analyst to top-flight manager continues to captivate football fans.
For more on managerial careers, read about Russell Martin – Biography, Tactics, and Leicester City Appointment and Carlo Ancelotti – Biography, Trophies, and Career Timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions About Will Still
What is the connection between Will Still and Football Manager game?
Will Still has spoken about how he played Football Manager obsessively as a teenager, which sparked his interest in tactics and management. He later became a real-life manager, often being described as “a Football Manager success story.”
Who is Emma Saunders?
Emma Saunders is a sports journalist for the BBC and the partner of Will Still. She often covers football and has occasionally appeared in media alongside him.
Did Will Still play professional football?
No, Will Still did not play professional football. He came through the youth system at Reading but never made a senior appearance. He moved into coaching early in his career.
How did Will Still become a manager at such a young age?
After working as an assistant coach at Preston North End and Reims, he was promoted to head coach at Reims in 2022 at age 29, becoming the youngest manager in Europe’s top five leagues.
Does Will Still have a brother?
Yes, he has two brothers, Edward Still and Nicolas Still, both of whom have served as part of his coaching staff at RC Lens and Southampton.
What is Will Still’s contract length at Southampton?
He signed a three-year deal running until 30 June 2028, as confirmed by official club sources and Transfermarkt.
When did Will Still become Southampton manager?
He was initially appointed on an interim basis in May 2025, with a permanent contract finalized in July 2026.
Related stories
Amelia Grant covers the UK economy, business and consumer affairs.