Will Still 'eyed for Sunderland job' after Football Manager gamer's joy in France
After his incredible work with Reims in Ligue 1 saw him become a huge hit with football fans last year, Will Still is on Sunderland's shortlist to replace Toby Mowbray
Reims manager and Football Manager fanatic Will Still has been linked with the Sunderland job.
The 30-year-old, Belgian-born Englishman burst onto the scene when he took over at the Ligue 1 side in 2022. The seeds of his route into top-flight management were planted when his passion for the iconic computer game, inspired him to turn his attention away from playing football and into coaching and management.
Fast-forward 13 years to the present day, Reims have to pay a €25,000 (£22,000) fine for every game he manages, because he is yet to secure his UEFA Pro Coaching licence while still doing his studies for the exams. Nevertheless, he is proving to be worth every cent as the club are currently residing in fifth position, just four points away from the Champions League places.
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After reports from The Guardian claimed the coaching sensation was surprisingly being considered as a replacement to Tony Mowbray, Sunderland fans began expressing their joy. "Yes please, would love it if he was the next head coach. Speaks French and English so can get his ideas across to almost everyone. Seems decent to push us on," one fan said. "He's ideal for our squad of players," a second added.
"I'd be bouncing off the f***ing walls if we manage to bring him in," a third said, before a fourth tweeted: "Pay it and get him in. Would be a statement!"
Do you think Will Still would be a good appointment for Sunderland? Let us know in the comment section below
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Another wrote: "This would be ideal. Could become a successful long term appointment." However, not everybody believes he is a realistic target for the Black Cats. "That’s too good to be true," said one rather pessimistic supporter.
Mowbray was dismissed with the club residing in ninth position, just three points away from the Premier League play-off places. Considering the season is still relatively young and Still has ambitions of managing in the Premier League fans, Sunderland supporters may have a reason to be optimistic.
"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," Still said in an interview with Sky Sports, earlier in the year. "It would feel like coming home, just because the English culture is part of me, part of my roots, part of my family, part of who I am.
"I think if you asked any kid what they would like to do, they'd say they'd love to be a Premier League footballer or manager and I'm no different. I was brought up like everyone else and had the same dreams. I'll keep at them."