Southampton have secured the services of Will Still, signing him on a three-year deal as their new boss following their drop from the Premier League.
At just 32, Still comes to St Mary’s off the back of a successful stint with Lens in France’s Ligue 1, steering them to an eighth-place finish this term.
His appointment came before Southampton’s final-day clash against Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side headed to the south coast to round off their Premier League campaign.
“I’m extremely proud and excited to have joined Southampton – there is huge potential here and we have a great opportunity to do something special,” said Still.
Having kicked off his managerial journey in Belgium with stints at Lierse and Beerschot, Still’s impressive tenure at Reims made him the youngest boss in Europe’s top five leagues, eventually leading him to Lens.
“The project that has been laid out to me is very impressive and, all together, I believe we can build a clear identity and a very positive future for the team,” Still added.
With a focus on the summer, Still is keen to forge a tight-knit squad capable of making a swift return to the Premier League.
“I’m eager to get to work this summer and start building a close-knit group that can make everyone proud and ultimately get us back to where we belong – in the Premier League,” he said.
Still’s appointment comes as the Saints prepare to mount a campaign for promotion after a dismal season that saw them amass a mere 12 points with one game left.
The disappointing run resulted in the exits of Ivan Juric and Russell Martin from the managerial hot seat at St Mary’s.
“Will is a young, innovative manager who has already gained significant experience throughout his career and we have been extremely impressed both by his track record and our conversations with him,” said Johannes Spors, Southampton’s group technical director.
“What was very apparent in our discussions was the clarity of his philosophy and the identity he wants his teams to have, but also his willingness and ability to adapt to different situations as they present themselves, which will be an important quality in the Championship next season.
“We were very impressed by his personality and his values, and we feel he will be an excellent fit for the culture we are looking to build at Staplewood.”
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