SAINTS have confirmed the appointment of 32 year old Englishman Will Still as the club's new first-team manager on a three-year deal.

Belgium-born Still led RC Lens to an eighth-place finish in France's Ligue 1 this season, after two mid-table campaigns with Stade Reims.

Lens finished just five points off European qualification despite spinning a £70million profit on transfers throughout Still's one-year tenure.

Still will now take charge at St Mary's and lead the team ahead of the Championship season, following relegation from the Premier League.

After signing his deal, Still said: "I’m extremely proud and excited to have joined Southampton. There is huge potential here.

"We have a great opportunity to do something special. The project that has been laid out to me is very impressive and, all together, I believe we can build a clear identity and a very positive future for the team.

“I can’t wait to meet you, the fans. I look forward to hearing you in voice, and feeling the energy and belief at St Mary’s and beyond.

“I’m eager to get to work this summer and start building a close-knit group that can make everyone proud and ultimately get us back to where we belong; in the Premier League.”

The search for a new boss was led by technical director Johannes Spors, who believes he has hired one of the brightest coaching talents in Europe.

Still became the youngest manager in Europe’s top five leagues and shot to prominence after guiding the team to a record-breaking 19 games unbeaten in the 2022/23 campaign.

Spors said: "Will is a young, innovative manager who has already gained significant experience throughout his career, and we have been extremely impressed both by his track record and our conversations with him.

“What was very apparent in our discussions was the clarity of his philosophy and the identity he wants his teams to have, but also his willingness and ability to adapt to different situations as they present themselves, which will be an important quality in the Championship next season.

“We were very impressed by his personality and his values, and we feel he will be an excellent fit for the culture we are looking to build at Staplewood.”

Southampton’s announcement of Still’s arrival made no mention of his backroom staff, while there is no word on Simon Rusk and Adam Lallana’s future.

Still’s assistants at Lens, Edward Still and Nicolas Still - his brothers - have officially departed the French club, a statement confirmed