Will Still hungry to reboot career at Auxerre after eight-month break | OneFootball

Will Still, 33, is aiming to reboot his career at Auxerre after an eight-month break, signing a two-year deal with the Ligue 1 club.

According to L'Équipe, the Anglo-Belgian was sacked by Southampton on 2 November 2025. He arrives amid turbulence following survival, with owner James Zhou dismissing Christophe Pelissier.

Still sought to steer clear of internal politics and said he is not there to replace anyone. He expressed respect for recent work and said he would bring energy, humour and a hungry, front-foot mindset.

He knows scrutiny will be sharp. Ultras Auxerre president Jonathan Ernie suggested fans would hold fire for roughly seven or eight matches.

His rise included a 15-match unbeaten run after becoming Reims head coach in October 2022, before departing in May 2024. At Lens in 2024-25 he finished eighth after a mixed campaign, then his Southampton stint ended early despite a three-year deal.

The pause helped him reflect after 12 years without a break as analyst, assistant and head coach. He has expanded his staff, blending incumbents Djibril Cissé and Jean-Alain Boumsong with his assistant brother Nicolas and Cyril Jeunechamp to link the academy.

With serious injuries to defenders Bryan Okoh and Marvin Senaya, and arrivals of midfielder Arthur Piedfort, goalkeeper Mamadou Diop and left-back Sékou Fofana, the squad will keep evolving. A planned exit for key forward Lassine Sinayoko is on the cards, and Still favours a 4-3-3 to press and unsettle opponents.

Source: L'Équipe