Reims coach Will Still has indicated that he would ‘have a think’ about taking over at Premier League outfit West Ham United if David Moyes was to leave the London Stadium, speaking to talkSPORT (15 March, 7.30pm).
Ok, by this point, you’ve probably seen the Tweet. We’ve all seen the Tweet.
“Will Still,” begins what may be the most copied-and-pasted paragraph on the internet. “Has led Reims to an 18 game unbeaten run in all competitions.
“At 30 years old, he’s the youngest manager in Europe’s top five leagues. Reims pay a £22,000 fine each time Still manages because he doesn’t have his UEFA Pro license.”
Time for an update. Following Sunday’s outstanding 1-0 win away at Monaco, Still’s Reims are unbeaten in 19 games now. What’s more, that weekly £22,000 fine is now a thing of the past; the one-time Preston North End U14 coach making rapid progress in his pursuit of that coaching licence.
Would Reims coach Will Still be tempted to become West Ham manager?
Arguably no manager in the whole of European football has caused such a stir this season. Still, five years younger than Julian Nagelsmann, has an unfancied Reims side on the verge of European qualification in France’s top flight. No team on the continent is on a longer unbeaten run, while a series of six successive clean sheets is also a club record.
Still’s love for the claret-and-blue of West Ham, meanwhile, is well-documented. As is about every other aspect of his remarkable rise; his English heritage, his Football Manager obsession. So, with Moyes under growing pressure, it was only going to be a matter of time before Still was facing rather awkward questions about potentially taking over at his beloved club.
“I would tell them to get in touch with the club here,” Still said when asked how we would respond if West Ham came calling, while insisting that he would not take the job now ‘out of respect for David Moyes’.
If the Scot was to leave, however, then it may be a different story.
“I would have a think about it,” Still adds tentatively.
‘Incredible’
Inspired by the sensational form of Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun, Reims have won five of their last nine Ligue 1 games and even claimed a draw against Paris Saint-Germain.
“He has certainly done very well. It is very difficult to do at that age,” says Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe, speaking from experience.
“I started at 31. I’m not sure on Will’s background and how he’s built his career to this point but very impressive to be managing at his age.
“The success he’s had has been incredible. Are managers getting younger? I’m not sure if that’s a fact or not. But certainly it is a very demanding job.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
