Will Still lands new job in Europe seven months after Southampton sacking

French club AJ Auxerre have appointed Will Still as their new manager.

Still joins on a two-year deal with the option of a third.

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Why AJ Auxerre felt compelled to appoint Still

“On behalf of everyone at AJ Auxerre, I welcome Will Still and wish him every success in the club’s project,” AJA president Baptiste Malherbe said, per a translated version of the club statement.

“All of AJA’s forces will be united behind him so that he succeeds in his mission and continues the club’s sporting progress.”

The statement added Still’s ‘energy, high standards and top-level experience perfectly match the club’s ambitions’.

I’m Still standing

Still’s appointment marks his return to a dugout following his departure from Southampton last November.

The 33-year-old was axed having won just twice in 13 league fixtures, with a 2-0 loss at home to Preston North End proving to be the final straw.

Still was just six months into a three-year deal when he was relieved of his duties.

He takes over AJA after they finished 15th in Ligue 1 last season, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Still’s appointment at AJA heralds a return to familiar surroundings as he previously enjoyed stints with Reims and Lens.

Having commenced his professional coaching career in Belgium with Lierse and Beerschot, Still joined Reims in October 2022.

Despite the club possessing one of the lowest budgets in Ligue 1, Still oversaw 9th and 11th-place finishes with Reims.

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He then joined Lens in June 2024.

Despite losing Abdukodir Khusanov to Manchester City and Kevin Danso to Tottenham midway through the season, Still led Lens to a ninth-placed finish.

It was his only season in charge of Lens as he was announced as Southampton boss a week after he left the French club.

Still later explained his decision to leave Lens was to be closer to his partner, Sky Sports reporter Emma Saunders, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in September 2024 and then battled encephalitis.

“I didn’t tell anyone,” Still said.

“I only told the players because I had to be away for a day or two. And in February and March, she suffered from encephalitis; her brain swelled, and she spent ten days in a coma.

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“I had reached a point in my life, and not just in my coaching career, where I needed to go home, take care of her and find some peace and quiet.”

Still will oversee his first competitive match with AJA on August 22 against Lens.