England Should Consider Ligue 1 Coach Will Still As Lee Carsley’s Successor

Head coach of the England men’s national team is arguably soccer’s most curious job title.

It’s both an enviable post and a poisoned chalice. England has an array of fine players, so it can realistically aspire to win a major tournament, and doing so for the first time in 60 years would instantly immortalize any boss. However, despite falling short on repeat, even the squads narrowly missing out will be classed as failures, disappointments, honorable nearly-rans, or whichever label you prefer.

That explains why Lee Carsley, the interim coach after Gareth Southgate ended an eight-year reign in which he came so close to breaking the hoodoo, is perhaps anxious about leaving the less scrutinized under-21 position to take on the role proper. Unwittingly, yet shining a light on his inner thoughts, Carsley said “he’d hopefully be going back to the under-21s” after a disjointed England limped to defeat against Greece, the one blot on his record with the seniors. “This job deserves a world-class coach,” he’s since remarked. Does the 50-year-old think he’s it?

It’s now emerged that German trainer Thomas Tuchel is a favorite for the position. And it’s understandable. If England intends to appoint an English coach, there aren’t many striking names to choose from in the country—the natural place to look. Alongside ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter, four of the Premier League’s 20 coaches match the description: Eddie Howe, Sean Dyche, Russell Martin, and Gary O’Neill.

Someone who barely features in the discussion is Will Still. Born in Belgium, Still is an English national who has already shown great promise in France’s top tier with Stade de Reims. As a newbie to Ligue 1 management, the then 30-year-old guided the side to 19 games unbeaten in 2022/23 while being the youngest coach in Europe’s top divisions. He’s now in the hot seat at Lens, a Champions League team last term.

The Man Who Cost $2,700 A Game

West Ham supporter Still’s inexperience cost Reims a decent chunk of money during his stint there. When he replaced Óscar García in the dugout, Still didn’t own a UEFA Pro License, meaning his employers had to take a €2,500 ($2,700) hit for every fixture he managed without the adequate qualifications. However, it was a calculated risk: Still’s results, kicking Reims into mid-table, softened the financial loss. He’s now trained up.

Any reservations? He only turned 32 yesterday, which is very young in managerial terms. He has also yet to land a job in English soccer—let alone the England gig—with the former an acid test of one’s credentials. And that he famously developed a feel for his craft by playing the video game Football Manager may be another reason to take him lightly in a world where the more proven Pep Guardiola or Tuchel are standout attractions.

Nevertheless, Still—playing down the Football Manager links—has applied himself well in France, and getting ahead without the typical UEFA education is a feather in his cap. His linguistic skills (English and French)—rare for an English coach—point toward a clever person and communicator. He may not be the conventional call, but he would be a refreshing selection.

Indeed, investing in young coaches is worthwhile. Still isn’t stuck in his ways and would be keen to learn and find methods to tackle the strongest teams in international soccer. England’s stars don’t necessarily need an older head, either—just a figure they can relate to and respect.

Even the job itself may not demand a genius. Southgate cultivated an excellent sporting environment where the squad bonded and was mentally tough; reversing the poor historical record in penalty shootouts was a prime example. The final step is hiring a personality who can install a proactive, bold style of play. He might not be quite ready, but the England hierarchy should not overlook Still in the long run.