Southampton Football Club have revealed the appointment of Will Still, as their next head coach. The 32-year-old Belgian-born English coach, formerly of RB Salzburg, has signed a three-year deal with the club. After a turbulent last campaign, this step represents a real change in approach as they look to bounce back into the Premier League. Southampton endured a dismal campaign, becoming the first team to lose 30 matches in a single Premier League season and finishing with only 12 points.
Will Still Southampton’s much-trailed new head coach is expected to bring his high-octane football style to St Mary’s. He had previously managed RC Lens to an impressive eighth place finish in Ligue 1. His appointment is a big bet from Southampton, an indication of their desire to get back where they belong — among the best in England.
High-Octane Philosophy
Will Still’s coaching style is known for being aggressive, particularly intent on pressing and high-energy play. He made no secret of wanting his Southampton teams to dominate matches by having a permanent station in the opponent’s third.
“We want to be high up the pitch and in the opposition’s third as much as possible.” – Will Still
Notably, Still underlined how he dislikes a passive approach to play. That’s doing it the wrong way, he says. Instead, he wants to create a culture where winning is everything.
“It’s about creating that environment where we’re here to win and we want to win consistently.” – Will Still
His vision is to build an exciting, attacking team that entertains fans as it wins.
“I want to create this high-energy team with good humans who actually enjoy doing ultimately the best job in the world.” – Will Still
Familiarizing with New Surroundings
Since arriving at the club, Still has been deep in analysis of Southampton’s previous games. From there, he’s trying to dial in on where the team is lacking and flourishing. Getting used to his new environment will be important, as he gets ready to put his plans into action.
He understands the uphill battle, is hopeful for the long-term goal of making the team into a consistently elite group. His dedication to two-way pressing and match domination should have a profound impact on future training sessions.
“I don’t like to sit in and wait and be passive.” – Will Still
Aiming for Immediate Success
The primary goal for Will Still is clear: return Southampton to the Premier League at the first attempt. So as far as Jones is concerned, a good opening to the campaign is key for restoring Southampton’s long-standing reputation. His emphasis on consistency and performance in turn fuels this conviction.
The club’s ownership and management clearly have full faith in Still’s talents. They are putting money in his vision to create a more aggressive and competitive squad. The fans will of course be most interested to see how his stated approach yields results as the season moves forward.
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