Will Still is looking to lead Reims to their best Ligue 1 finish since the 2019/20 season as the French club thrive under the young manager.
Reims are 10th in the league standings ahead of their game at Lens on May 12, but they can still finish as high as fifth if other results also go their way in the final four matchdays.
The likes of Folarin Balogun, Yehvann Diouf, and Alexis Flips have all done well this season under the guidance of Still.
The Sporting News looks at Still's managerial career so far and how he ended up at Reims.
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Is Will Still English or Belgian?
Still was born in Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium, in October 1992, to English parents. He learnt to speak French at school and Dutch while playing for Flemish football clubs.
When Still was 17, he moved to England so he could begin studying to become a football coach. He learnt his trade at Myerscough College in Preston, in the north of the country.
17 - Will Still is only the second manager to remain unbeaten in his first 17 games in the Top 5 European Leagues in the 21st century, after Tito Vilanova with Barcelona in 2012/13 (18). Invincible ? #ASMSDR pic.twitter.com/KCEXT8fF9T
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) March 12, 2023
Who has Will Still managed?
Still, now 30, gained experience at lower levels of the game before making his way to Reims. He started off as assistant manager of Preston North End U14s before becoming a video analyst at Sint-Truiden and Standard Liege.
He went from caretaker manager to full-time manager at Lierse in the Challenger Pro League in Belgium, where he guided his team to 21 points from a possible 29. However, he could not stay for more than nine games as he did not have the necessary coaching licence to carry on in the role.
After a six-month spell in charge of Beerschot, Reims hired Still as assistant to Oscar Garcia in the 2021/22 season. He briefly left to go back to Standard Liege in order to complete his UEFA Pro Licence, but he was called back by the French side for the 2022/23 campaign.
Garcia was sacked by Reims on October 13, 2022 and Still became interim manager. He was unbeaten in his first five games and was awarded the manager role until the end of the season.
What is Will Still's record in Ligue 1?
Still got off to a brilliant start as Reims head coach, not losing any of his first 14 games in all competitions. His unbeaten run in the league reached 17 games as Reims tried to push for a European spot.
Reims have only lost four league games since Still took charge, three of which have come in the last four matches. Arsenal loanee Balogun has been their star performer with 18 Ligue 1 goals this season.
Will Still Ligue 1 record
| Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points per game | Goal scored | Goals conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 1.75 | 29 | 16 |
Does Will Still have his coaching badges?
Still has a diploma in football coaching after studying the subject at university, but he is yet to secure his UEFA Pro Licence.
He has confirmed his is working on achieving the qualification, which will also be a huge relief to Reims. The club are paying a €25,000 (£22,000/$27,000) fine every time he is on the sidelines because he does not have the required qualifications.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Still was asked whether he would like to manage in England following links with the Leeds United and Southampton roles. He said: "Being English and growing up in an English environment in Belgium, England has always felt like home and a place that I'd love to go back to."