Will Still finally breaks silence on Southampton FC exit – ‘criticism can be harsh’ | OneFootball

Former Saints boss Will Still has opened up about his exit from the South Coast.

Former Southampton boss Will Still has opened up about his departure from the St Mary’s Stadium, believing ‘criticism can be harsh’ and that he was left hurt by the way his short tenure ended on the South Coast.

Still embarked on his first managerial role in England last summer, taking over at Southampton, where he was tasked with delivering immediate promotion back to the Premier League following their top-flight relegation under the combination of Russell Martin and Ivan Juric.

And the 33-year-old arrived with the reputation of being one of the brightest young coaching talents in Europe, previously guiding Ligue 1 side Lens to an eighth-place finish in France’s top flight the previous season, while he became the youngest manager in Europe’s top five leagues when managing Reims, taking them on a record-breaking 19 games unbeaten in the 2022-23 campaign.

Therefore, there was much optimism that Still could drag the club back to the big time, particularly when the club possessed one of the more dominant budgets in the division.

Over the summer, the Saints welcomed nine new faces for their fresh challenge in the second-tier, with high-profile Championship names like Finn Azaz and Tom Fellows walking into the building after impressing at both Middlesbrough and West Brom last term.

But instead of fighting towards the top end of the table, Southampton would instead be looking over their shoulders under Still.

The Saints head coach had to deal with numerous injury issues that disrupted both the rhythm and depth of the squad, leading to the club winning just two of their opening 13 Championship outings under his guidance.

And after just five months in charge, he was relieved of his duties at the beginning of November 2025, with the club dropping to 21st in the Championship standings.

The Saints then benefited from an upturn in form under first interim boss Tonda Eckert, but the club’s results have gone back into a worrying pattern since the German took over the hotseat on a permanent basis.

Much time has passed since Still’s departure, but he has now given his thoughts on his Instagram page about how it played out at Southampton.

Will Still reflects on Southampton departure

As posted on his Instagram account, former Southampton boss Will Still has opened up about his managerial journey over the past three months, believing the criticism he faced was “harsh” and that he was left hurt by his short spell on the South Coast ending so soon.

Still posted: “The past 12 weeks have given me an opportunity to stop and take a moment to listen. Listen to those who have encouraged me to pause, reflect and appreciate everything I have experienced and achieved so far. For the first time in my coaching career, I’ve had a chance to take stock on a personal and professional level - to reset, learn and refresh.

“Now, as I look back over these past 12 years since taking my first steps into coaching, I feel incredibly grateful and have a real sense of pride. From starting out as a video analyst then assistant coach, to going on to realise the dream of stepping into a head coach role, it has been a journey so far full of milestone moments. Being appointed the youngest head coach in a top-flight league, going on historic unbeaten runs, savouring unforgettable wins, discovering new countries and cultures… I am grateful to have shared these high points surrounded by those who have really got behind me - my family, my players, the various staff, board members and the unbelievable fanbases.

“But no journey is without its challenges. There have been difficult personal periods and to be let go by Southampton in November was one of them. Did it hurt? Of course. I am passionate about my work as a head coach, I love the job and building something with all the people I am lucky enough to work with. Criticism can be harsh but it comes with the territory. I also know I didn’t get everything right and on reflection there are things I’d have done differently. But through all of this, I appreciate all the opportunities I have been afforded in this game so far and this time away has given me fresh energy, perspective and an even stronger sense of how much I know I have to give.

“I feel excited for the future, the possibilities that lie ahead and I’m truly grateful to everyone who has supported me, believed in me and helped shape my career so far.

“Onwards.”

Will Still will be a better manager from Southampton experience

Despite a fabulous start to his coaching career over in Belgium and France, Will Still is facing the first big challenge of his managerial career as he looks to respond to his failings at Southampton.

While it was a desperately disappointing five months in charge of the South Coast outfit, Still can consider himself unfortunate by the sheer number of injuries that occurred while he was in the dugout, which could only have contributed to the downturn of results and position in the league table.

Inevitably, some will cast doubt over whether he has the ability to succeed in English football, but the truth is that Still has had more successful managerial spells than failures, while proving himself to be one of the most tactically savvy up-and-coming managers, promoting a brand of fast, modern, and attack-minded football that could well suit another club that comes calling.

Whether Still fancies heading back overseas or staying in England remains up to him, but to answer back at the critics, he should be looking to land another job within the EFL and showcase that his methods can bring success.

He was previously touted for the Oxford United and Norwich City vacancies shortly after leaving Southampton, but Still is wise to take some further time off to reflect on what has been a whirlwind last three months.

There is sure to be another second-tier side that will fancy taking a punt on Still in the near future, and it’s almost certain that we haven’t seen the last of him as a Championship boss.