Will Still shared his coaching philosophy on Monday Night Football earlier this year; ahead of his debut as Southampton manager, we look back; Watch Southampton v Wrexham live on Sky Sports Football from 11am on Saturday; kick-off 12.30pm
Will Still is preparing for his first match in England and his first game as Southampton manager as they face Wrexham in the 2025/26 Premier League final on Saturday.
At 32, Still has become one of the most talked about coaches in Europe thanks to his work with Reims and Lens in France.
In April, Still appeared on Monday Night Football with Jamie Carragher to discuss his coaching philosophy and approach. He shared some interesting insights and perhaps offered a glimpse into what Saints fans can expect this season…
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On his breakthrough in France
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As manager of Lens, Will Still became the second youngest manager in Europe in the major European leagues.
To be honest, I consider myself incredibly lucky. I started my career as a video analyst and gradually worked my way up from the Belgian second division to the top. I just tried to open up as many opportunities as possible. I was lucky at key moments and met the right people.
“I moved to France as an assistant coach and then everything changed quickly. The manager I was working under was sacked and the club asked me to take over on an interim basis for five games before the World Cup. From there, everything went to plan.
“Many people may not know that my first real coaching experience was at Preston North End's academy. I did a university course at Preston and as part of that course I worked with the club's under-12s.
“I wasn’t a full-time coach. I came in as a freelance assistant, but we had the opportunity to travel around the academy, watch the coaches, watch the players and be involved in the activities. That’s what attracted me. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to work in football, in any role that was offered to me. I was hooked.”
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In their 19-game unbeaten run since the start
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However, an exclusive look at his pre-match training and tactical presentation was provided.
“That success really put me in the spotlight, although I never planned it. I was just replacing other players before the World Cup. The management told me: 'You have five matches. Try to get as many points as possible.'
“At that point we were in the relegation zone, so the challenge was to stabilise the situation. They told me: 'If anything needs to be changed during or after the World Cup, we will do it.' And
Sourse: skysports.com
