**Will Still Quits RC Lens Role to Support Partner Emma Saunders Amid Health Crisis**
In a heartfelt move reflecting the profound intersection between personal life and professional duties, Will Still, head coach of French Ligue 1 club RC Lens, has confirmed his decision to resign and return to the United Kingdom. Still’s resolve follows a harrowing period for his partner, Sky Sports presenter Emma Saunders, who has faced and endured two major health scares within the last football season.
Still, aged 32, took charge of Lens last summer and promptly delivered a respectable eight-placed finish in France’s top flight. Yet, following the club’s final fixture — a resounding 4-0 triumph over AS Monaco — Still told supporters that he would not be returning for a second season, citing the need to be closer to Saunders during her ongoing recovery.
Saunders, noted for her work as a matchday reporter and presenter with Sky Sports, was thrust into the spotlight for reasons outside her television duties earlier this year. She disclosed on social media in March that she had been diagnosed with encephalitis, a serious brain infection, and had even been placed in a coma as a result of the illness. This ordeal came in the wake of her recovery from thyroid cancer, which she had been treated for at the beginning of the football season.
In an emotional Instagram update from hospital, Saunders wrote openly about her battle: “Hi folks. Unfortunately life took a bit of an unexpected turn a couple of weeks ago and I’m now off work while I recover from Encephalitis – an infection of the brain. I hope it won’t be long until I’m back to see out the end of 2024/25 — especially after missing part of the start of the season before this when I was treated for thyroid cancer.” She went on to thank friends, family, and NHS staff for their unwavering care and support, as well as paying tribute to Still for his presence and understanding throughout her health challenges.
Despite her improving health and recent appearance beside Still for Lens’ final match, the manager remains committed to standing by Saunders’ side, a decision he explained was as personal as it was professional. During a post-match address, Still made his feelings plain: “I won’t be the coach of RC Lens next season… The main reason that pushed me to make this decision is the fact that I need to go home. Everyone is well aware of what happened in my life. That’s why.” He stressed the importance of family and well-being, noting that four years in France had been “intense” but that his “logical choice” now was to support his partner.
The responsibility of balancing his career against the well-being of loved ones was never lost on Still. After Saunders was hospitalised, he admitted to French media that his mind was understandably elsewhere. “We realise that there are more important things in life than a football match or a shot that goes into the top corner,” he told *L’Equipe*. He revealed that Saunders herself had encouraged him to fulfil his work commitments in France, even as she fought her illness in the UK.
As speculation now mounts about Still’s managerial future, particularly in relation to recently relegated Premier League outfit Southampton, it is clear his family’s welfare will remain a critical factor in his decision-making in the weeks ahead. While the possibility of returning to English football may appeal professionally, it is evident that personal circumstances have taken precedence.
The couple, whose relationship became public during Euro 2024 when photos of them at Wembley surfaced, have faced the past year’s adversity with notable courage. For Still, who made headlines for becoming the youngest manager among Europe’s top leagues when he took the reins at Reims aged just 30, the decision underlines the increasing recognition of mental and emotional well-being in the high-pressure world of elite football.
Saunders, who also has experience as a broadcaster for the BBC, is gradually on the mend and has expressed strong hopes of returning to her work at Sky Sports as soon as she is able. Her resilience, as well as the unwavering support shown by those closest to her, has resonated with many well-wishers across social media.
Still’s departure from RC Lens marks the end of a significant chapter for the club and for himself, but importantly, it opens the door for the couple to focus on health and family in a time of need. The football community, in the UK and abroad, has rallied around the pair, whose professionalism and humanity have been clear for all to see.
As the football world awaits further news about Still’s next move, his actions highlight the reality that, sometimes, life’s greatest decisions take place off the pitch.