Football Insider reports that Sunderland has formally spoken to former Reims manager Will Still, signaling that the team’s search for a new manager is intensifying. Since Michael Beale was fired earlier in the season, the Black Cats have been without a permanent manager. Mike Dodds was appointed to the position temporarily. He made sure they would stay in the Championship, and now the search is on for a new man.
It was thought that Still was vying for the Norwich position, but since that has been taken, Sunderland is reportedly making more of an attempt to entice him to move to the Northeast. They reportedly had some early misgivings about Still, who claims that the video game Football Manager served as the inspiration for his coaching career. Interviews have, however, reinforced the notion that he would operate under the current structure, retaining a large portion of the club’s coaching and backroom staff. Up until recently, the 31-year-old was the manager of the French team Reims in Ligue 1. After being interviewed in December for the Sunderland position, he stepped down a few weeks ago so that the board could “look ahead to the next financial year with peace of mind.”
In addition, he said that he might be amenable to going back to England—more precisely, to the Championship. He stated, “I would work for a Championship team without a problem,” in a February interview with The Athletic. “I would want to work with an ambitious Championship club that is willing to put in the necessary effort, be transparent and truthful about their actions, and genuinely strive for success. Of course, every manager’s desire is to play in the Premier League. I’m also not in a rush. It’s not like I have to visit the Premier League or this or that club if I travel to England. Something is fitting if it does, and I’d be just as happy doing that
Originally from England, Still started his coaching career in Belgium as a coach for Preston North End Under 14. He later managed Lierse and Beerschot before relocating to Reims. After leading the French team to a 14-game winning streak, which included two draws against Paris St. Germain, he made headlines.