Southampton fans had to endure one of the most wretched top-flight seasons in recent memory last year.
Saints prize for beating Leeds United in the play-off final at Wembley in May 2024 was a gruelling Premier League campaign that brought about just two wins, a total of 12 points and three managers in the dugout.
After the earliest relegation in Premier League history, the club knew an almighty reset was in order ahead of their return to the Championship and thats exactly what theyve done.
Opportunity knocks for Will Still
This reset involved hiring 32-year-old Will Still as the clubs new manager, as Southampton moved to give one of Europes most-talked-about young coaches - who was ranked at no.46 in FourFourTwos list of the best managers in the world earlier this summer - his first opportunity in English football.
Stills coaching career began in Belgium, with a short caretaker stint in charge of Lierse in 2017, before taking over at Beerschot. He then moved to France and settled into roles at Reims and then Lens, before taking the opportunity to return to home soil earlier this summer.
He arrives at St Marys with a lofty reputation, with his first job being to revitalise the relegated Saints.
And Sky Sports presenter David Prutton believes that Still has the type of personality to embrace this challenge and answer the naysayers who are questioning his lack of experience.
Theres been media hype about him since a couple of years ago, when there was all that talk of Reims paying a fine of �22,000 every time he managed them, because he didnt have his UEFA Pro Licence, former Saints and Leeds United midfielder David Prutton tells FourFourTwo.
As a coach, he was the wonderkid. Im sure therell be some Southampton fans wholl have their arms folded and say: Come on then, Will Still, lets see what youre made of and what all the hype is about.
But from what Ive seen, heard and know of Will, hell be relishing that opportunity. Its almost like, Whats all the hype been about? Now I can show you.
Southampton kick off their 2025/26 season with an eye-catching home clash against promoted Wrexham before they travel to fellow relegated side Ipswich Town.
TOPICS
