Will Still – Biography, Career, and Football Manager Origin

Will Still is one of the most unconventional stories in modern football. A Belgian-born, English-qualified manager, he rose from playing the video game Football Manager to the technical area of Ligue 1, becoming the youngest head coach in Europe’s top five leagues along the way. His journey offers a rare glimpse into how data, analysis, and passion can build a top-level coaching career without a long playing background.

Born to English parents in Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium, Still grew up bilingual and played youth football for Sint-Truiden and RAEC Mons. At 17, he moved to England to study football coaching at Myerscough College, a decision that set him on a radically different path from his peers.

Who Is Will Still? Biography and Early Life

Will Still Teams Coached: From Football Manager to Ligue 1

Early roles in Belgium

Still began his coaching journey as a video analyst at Sint-Truiden before moving into staff roles at Standard Liège and Lierse. At age 24, he became head coach of Lierse, leading the club to a seven-match winning streak and becoming the youngest head coach in Belgian football history.

Stade de Reims: Rise to prominence

Still joined Stade de Reims as an assistant in July 2022. When the club parted ways with head coach Óscar García in October 2022, Still stepped in as interim. The team immediately responded, embarking on a 14-match unbeaten run in all competitions. He was appointed permanently shortly after.

At Reims, Still became the youngest head coach in Europe’s top five leagues at age 30. In March 2023, he set a club and personal record: a Ligue 1 unbeaten streak of 17 top-flight games. His overall record at Reims stands at 25 wins from 65 matches, a 38% win rate, with Transfermarkt listing 64 matches at 1.44 points per match. He left the club by mutual consent in May 2024.

RC Lens and Southampton

According to Transfermarkt, Still took over at RC Lens in July 2024, with a contract running until 30 June 2027. Then, in 2025, Southampton’s official profile confirmed he became manager of the English club.

Will Still Football Manager Game Origin Story

The link between Still and Football Manager is not just a media trope—it is a central part of his biography. Multiple sources, including OneFootball and interviews on platforms such as YouTube, describe him as a “Football Manager addict” who learned tactical systems from the game.

Still has stated publicly that playing Football Manager inspired him to pursue coaching as a career. He studied the mechanics of squad building, formations, and match management through the simulation. That passion translated into real-world decisions: moving to England to study at Myerscough College, taking video analysis jobs, and eventually stepping into dugouts across Belgium and France.

His case is often cited as a rare example of a gamer-turned-professional-coach. It has drawn attention because so many fans play Football Manager but few actually make the leap to professional management. Still made that leap.

How Old Is Will Still? Age and Coaching Milestones

Age and early start

Still was born on 14 October 1992, making him 33 as of 2025. He was 24 when he took charge of Lierse and 30 when he became the permanent head coach of Stade de Reims. Southampton’s official profile notes that he is used to managing players his own age or older, a dynamic that shapes his approach to man-management.

Coaching license and formation

Transfermarkt lists his coaching license as a UEFA A Licence. His preferred formation on the same site is listed as 3-4-1-2, although another entry also shows 4-2-3-1. Public profiles consistently describe him as tactically flexible, adapting his system to the players at his disposal.

Timeline of Will Still’s Coaching Career

1. 1992 – Born in Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium, to English parents.
2. 2010s – Played youth football for Sint-Truiden and RAEC Mons; moved to England at 17 to study football coaching at Myerscough College.
3. Early career – Video analyst at Sint-Truiden; staff roles at Standard Liège and Lierse.
4. ~2016 – Appointed head coach of Lierse at age 24; youngest in Belgian second-tier history.
5. July 2022 – Joined Stade de Reims as assistant manager.
6. October 2022 – Appointed interim head coach; made permanent after 14-match unbeaten run.
7. March 2023 – Set Ligue 1 unbeaten record of 17 matches.
8. May 2024 – Left Reims by mutual consent after 25 wins in 65 games.
9. July 2024 – Took over RC Lens (per Transfermarkt).
10. 2025 – Appointed manager of Southampton.

What We Know vs. What Is Speculated

Analysis: The Will Still Story

What makes Still’s career notable is not just his age but his path. He bypassed the traditional playing-career route entirely, leaning instead on analysis, data, and tactical study. His time at Reims showed a team that could compete well above its wage bill, built on a compact 3-4-1-2 shape and quick transitions. The challenge at Southampton will test whether that approach translates to English football.

His departure from Reims was described as mutual, with the club citing a need for a new direction. Lens took him on quickly, and within months he moved again to Southampton. The speed of his ascent—from Lierse to Ligue 1 to the Premier League—has few parallels in modern football.

Sources and Notable Quotes

The following sources have documented Will Still’s career and the unique Football Manager connection:

• Wikipedia – Will Still
• Transfermarkt – Will Still profile
• Sky Sports – Will Still leaves Stade de Reims (May 2024)
• Instagram (@wrstill)
• Coaches’ Voice – Will Still interview

“I got into coaching via Football Manager.” – Will Still, in multiple interviews.

What’s Next for Will Still?

Still’s next chapter begins at Southampton, a club with a reputation for developing young talent and playing progressive football. The goal will be to establish himself in the Premier League, where tactical acumen is tested every week. If his trajectory continues, he could become one of the most talked-about young managers in English football.

For context on other football stories, see BBC Sport Scottish Football and Fluminense FC vs Al Hilal SFC Lineups.

Frequently Asked Questions