Stade de Reims manager Will Still, who one day dreams of managing boyhood club West Ham United, saw his 18-match unbeaten record in Ligue 1 come to an end on Sunday night
Stade de Reims manager Will Still has been a viral sensation in recent weeks following his superb start to life as a manager in Ligue 1.
The 30-year-old Belgian-born Englishman became Reims’ manager at the start of October, where he had been previously serving as an assistant manager to former Brighton and Hove Albion manager Oscar Garcia.
Still was officially appointed as Reims’ manager on October 13 although it is understood that he took charge of their goalless draw at home to Paris Saint-Germain five days earlier.
From that draw with PSG, Reims had been unbeaten for 18 Ligue 1 matches since Still’s arrival. However, on Sunday evening, that record came to an end thanks to Marseille.
Despite taking an early first-half lead through Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun, less than 20 minutes later, former Gunners, Manchester United and Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez scored twice in 13 minutes to put Marseille 2-1 up, the same scoreline in which the game ended.
While he was an unused substitute in the match, ex-West Ham United playmaker Dimitri Payet was part of the Marseille squad that ended Still’s impressive run.
Reims boss Still is yet to qualify as a full-time manager, as he is still undergoing his qualifications to complete his UEFA Pro Licence. Because of that, Reims’ had been getting fined £22,000 for every match Still takes charge of because he is not fully qualified yet. However, since starting his UEFA Pro Licence, Reims no longer have to pay that fine.
Since the goalless draw with PSG at the start of October, Reims have picked up 36 points from 19 games, with Still earning nine wins and nine draws in that time. Only PSG (41) and Monaco (37) have earned more points in that time.
Reims currently sit ninth in the Ligue 1 table, seven points behind Stade Rennais in fifth. In the French league, fifth and above qualify for European football.