Southampton want to appoint 32-year-old English manager - Here are 3 things he would bring to St Mary's | OneFootball

Southampton are keen on appointing RC Lens boss Will Still as their new manager, and he could be a shrewd appointment.

Southampton have endured a miserable season, with the club now desperate to pick up two more points as they look to avoid becoming the worst team in Premier League history.

In the bigger picture, attention will have already turned to next season, and the priority for the hierarchy is to bring in a new manager after it was announced that Ivan Juric had left.

A host of names have been linked with the vacancy already, with reports claiming that RC Lens boss Will Still is a target for Saints.

Will Still emerges as Southampton managerial target

The 32-year-old, who was born in Belgium to English parents, has established himself as one of the brightest young coaches on the continent, having already managed Lierse, Beerschot and Reims prior to his current role, despite his age.

So, convincing him to drop to the Championship would be seen as a coup, and here we outline THREE qualities he would bring to St. Mary’s…

A major issue for Southampton under Russell Martin was his insistence on playing the same way every week.

It became a major problem, as teams in the top-flight were aware of how to set up against the south coast side, and fans grew increasingly frustrated at his refusal to adapt.

With Still, that’s less likely to be an issue. With Reims, they would often play a 4-2-3-1 formation, whilst at Lens right now, a back three has been favoured.

That shows he is ready to adapt to get the best out of what he works with, which will be music to the ears of Southampton fans.

Like many modern coaches, Still has certain principles in terms of what he wants from his team, but he is willing to make tweaks to suit what is at his disposal, and that adaptability could build long-term success for Southampton.

High level experience

When you consider how young Still is, many will naturally presume he lacks experience.

However, when you look at his CV, you would have to say that getting him to join a Championship club would be a shrewd move by Southampton.

After brief spells in Belgium, Still has now managed almost 100 games in Ligue 1. Whilst it’s not at the level of the Premier League, it’s a very competitive top division which tests you in many different ways.

So, even though he will become one of the youngest managers in the EFL, Still is certainly qualified for this role, and that experience should ensure he is able to hit the ground running in the second tier.

Togetherness and fan backing

Whilst the hierarchy should never make a decision based on satisfying supporter feelings, there’s no denying that Still’s appointment would go down very well - and that’s a major positive.

After what they have endured this season, the feeling among the Southampton fan base is understandably very low. They are angry with the regime, they are fed up with losing each week, and the club needs someone to spark it back to life.

Still has the capability to do that, as he would immediately get the fans on side, and he has the personality to be the figurehead to lead this Southampton rebuild.

After a relegation like this, the culture at a club needs changing, and Still can be the man to ensure everyone is pulling in the same direction as Southampton look to bring the good times back to St. Mary’s.