Lorient consider Will Still to succeed Olivier Pantaloni | OneFootball

Lorient are assessing candidates to replace outgoing coach Olivier Pantaloni, with Will Still emerging as a leading profile. According to L'Équipe, Wouter Vrancken is also under consideration.

Pantaloni signalled 10 days ago in an interview with Ouest France that he did not plan to stay for a third season, citing disappointment over what he viewed as a lack of trust from the hierarchy. Club officials firmly denied that and were surprised his representatives sought improved terms on an already negotiated deal.

Black Knight Football Club became Lorient’s majority shareholder in late January and has begun a data-led search. Bournemouth director of football Tiago Pinto, at a BKFC-owned club, is steering the profile definition, with sporting director Laurent Koscielny and a BKFC representative, who attended Sunday’s defeat in Lyon, leading the work.

Still, 33, previously coached Reims from 2022 to 2024 and Lens in 2024-25, and had a difficult spell at Southampton in the Championship, where he was dismissed in November. He is valued for his Ligue 1 knowledge, dual background and reputation for developing young players while imposing a clear playing identity.

The interest in Still was confirmed internally on Friday, including by BKFC, though the process remains at an early stage. Vrancken, 47, currently at Saint-Trond and third in the league, has already been interviewed by Lorient’s leadership.

Source: L'Équipe