Will Still has confirmed he will leave Lens at the end of the season and return to the United Kingdom to be closer to his family.
Still, formerly head coach of Reims, joined Lens on a three-year contract last summer and guided them to an eighth-place finish in Ligue 1 this campaign.
Lens defeated Monaco 4-0 on Saturday in the final day of the 2024-25 season in France with the 32-year-old head coach saying after the match that it would be his final game in charge.
“I will not be the coach of Lens next season. Today was my last match of the season at Bollaert,” Still told reporters post-game, in quotes carried by Reuters.
“For multiple reasons, the main reason behind my decision is that I need to go back home. It is a logical choice for me to be closer to my wife, for her well-being.”
Still’s partner, Sky Sports presenter Emma Saunders, revealed in March that she had encephalitis, a brain infection.
Still, born in Belgium to English parents, began his managerial career at Belgian clubs Lierse and Beerschot, before becoming assistant coach to Oscar Garcia at Ligue 1 club Reims, where he later became manager — guiding the club to successive 11th-place finishes before leaving by mutual consent in May 2024, joining Lens the following months.
(Franco Arland/Getty Images)
