Southampton dismiss Will Still after disappointing start

November 3, 2025 Oliver Obel

Appointed in the summer, the 33-year-old Belgian-born coach was seen as an ambitious appointment following spells with Reims and Lens in France’s Ligue 1. His arrival marked another fresh start for the Saints after their chaotic 2024–25 campaign, which ended in relegation under Ivan Juric with seven games still to play.

Juric had inherited a struggling squad from Russell Martin, whose subsequent move to Rangers has also been marked by challenges. Still was tasked with rebuilding and instilling a long-term philosophy, supported by nine new signings during the summer transfer window. Expectations were high that he could spark a revival.

Yet the revival never materialized. As L’Équipe reported earlier this week, Still managed just two victories from his first 13 Championship fixtures, alongside six draws and five defeats. A 2–0 loss to Preston North End at the weekend marked Southampton’s third consecutive league defeat — and proved to be the final straw.

Club Statement

On Sunday evening, Southampton confirmed Still’s departure in an official post on their verified Instagram account.

“We can confirm that we have this evening parted ways with Men’s First Team Manager Will Still,” the club wrote. “Rubén Martinez, Clément Lemaitre and Carl Martin have also left their positions at the club. Men’s Under-21s Head Coach Tonda Eckert will take charge of the team on an interim basis.”

The announcement received over 14,000 likes within hours, as supporters reacted with a mix of disappointment and resignation.

Group Technical Director Johannes Spors added in a separate club statement:

“Will is a great person who gave everything to try and improve performances and results. Ultimately that process has taken longer than any of us would have liked. By making a change now, we believe it gives us the best chance of turning things around this season and climbing back up the league table.”

Looking Ahead

Southampton are now winless in five and sit just three points above the relegation zone — a far cry from the promotion-contending campaign many expected. The club’s hierarchy faces mounting pressure to appoint a manager capable of reviving confidence and restoring consistency at St Mary’s.

Despite the setback, Still remains widely regarded as one of Europe’s promising young coaches, having earned praise for his analytical approach and achievements in Ligue 1. His reputation is unlikely to be defined by this short-lived spell on the south coast.

For Southampton, however, another managerial reset means starting over once again — with fans hoping this time, stability will finally take hold.

Sources: L’Équipe, BBC, Reuters, Southampton FC (Instagram)