Will Still hasnt had his last say yet: Auxerre hand one of his generations most intriguing coaches a fresh start
Football has a habit of never fully slamming the door on people who have left a mark. Even after a fall. Even after an unexpected detour.
Seven months after being sacked by Southampton, Will Still is back in work. And it is in Ligue 1 that the Belgian-British coach has chosen to restart. AJ Auxerre confirmed on Wednesday the arrival of the 33-year-old on a deal for the next two seasons, with an extra year as an option. A bold call from the Burgundy club. A chance to reset for a coach whose path still fascinates.
For all his age, Still is no rookie. Not even close.
✍️ L’AJA est heureuse d’annoncer l’arrivée de Will Still au poste d’entraîneur jusqu’en juin 2028, plus une année en option.
Plus d’infos 👉 https://t.co/gF0NBmnpa5#TeamAJA #IconiquesAuthentiques pic.twitter.com/ULfZrxhbMo
— AJ Auxerre (@AJA) June 12, 2026
A return to familiar ground
When his name surfaced in Auxerre circles, plenty saw it as an obvious fit. Ligue 1 is the competition that made him and built his reputation.
At Reims, he did what so few coaches manage at the top level: stamp an identity on a team and get instant results. A 19-match unbeaten run swept across Europe and turned an almost unknown coach into a media obsession.
That spell in Reims opened the door to an even bigger job. In the summer of 2024, Lens handed him the keys to their sporting project. Just one season, but a solid enough one, ending with an eighth-place finish in the league.
England then looked like the natural next step on his climb.
The reality was harsher.
on MathODDS
Southampton, the setback that changed everything
The Southampton spell never really got going. In a demanding environment, with the pressure cranked up from day one, Still never found the stability he needed to get his ideas across. His time there ended in November 2025, far earlier than expected.
For plenty of coaches, a spell like that leaves a lasting bruise. For him, it feels more like a pause.
For weeks, the coach had been waiting for the right move. Not necessarily the flashiest one. Not the most glamorous. The one that made sense.
Auxerre ticked a lot of boxes.
A historic club. A passionate crowd. A board that wants to build. And, crucially, a squad that can grow with a modern playing style.
Auxerre turn an important page
Stills arrival also brings the Christophe Pelissier era to an end.
The French coach leaves Yonne after doing the main job asked of him: keeping AJA in the top flight. Mission accomplished, but not enough to earn him a longer stay.
Auxerres hierarchy have gone in a different direction. A bolder one. One aimed more at development and long-term progress.
With Still, the club is not just hiring a coach. It is betting on an idea. On a manager who can bring energy, modern methods and a clear identity to a side that wants to stay in Ligue 1 for good.
The test is now one of proof
This deal comes at a key point in the Belgian-British coaches career.
For a long time, Will Still was billed as the young prodigy in the dugout, the one breaking the rules and flying up the ladder at speed. Now the challenge is different. It is no longer just about turning heads.
He has to prove himself.
Auxerre offers exactly that kind of stage. A club ambitious enough to expect results, but patient enough to let him work over time.
At 33, plenty of coaches are only just getting started. He is already about to take charge of his third French club. An unusual path that keeps unfolding away from the usual script.
And maybe this next Burgundy chapter is the one where it all clicks. The one that turns a coaching promise into a lasting name in French football.
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