Teuma’s former coach Still appointed as new Southampton manager

Southampton announced Sunday they had appointed Will Still as their new manager after he agreed a three-year contract with the relegated Premier League club.

The 32-year-old — born in Belgium to English parents — will arrive at St Mary’s having guided Lens to an eighth-place finish in France’s Ligue 1 this season.

Still coached Reims during the 2023/2024 season, during Teddy Teuma’s first year at the club with the Malta international making 30 appearances and scoring 6 goals.

This season, despite wearing the captain’s armband, Teuma endured difficult second year at Reims with the French club deciding to leave out the Malta international out of their squad in the final part of the campaign.

Teuma, 31, is expected to leave Reims at the end of the season.

Read: Teddy Teuma unhappy with Stade Reims’ lack of ambition but vows to keep professional approach.

His appointment was announced just hours before kick-off in Southampton’s final match of the season, at home to Arsenal.

They are already guaranteed to finish bottom of the Premier League after managing just two wins and 12 points in total from their previous 37 league fixtures.

Nevertheless, Still said: “I’m extremely proud and excited to have joined Southampton -– there is huge potential here and we have a great opportunity to do something special.

“The project that has been laid out to me is very impressive and, all together, I believe we can build a clear identity and a very positive future for the team.”

Southampton’s group technical director Johannes Spors explained Still’s appointment saying: “Will is a young, innovative manager who has already gained significant experience throughout his career, and we have been extremely impressed both by his track record and our conversations with him.

“What was very apparent in our discussions was the clarity of his philosophy and the identity he wants his teams to have.

“But also his willingness and ability to adapt to different situations as they present themselves, which will be an important quality in the Championship next season.”