At first you might be a tad perturbed to hear that self-confessed student of Football Manager Will Still has reportedly turned down the Rangers job.
After all, the legendary video game franchise has spawned a million and one would-be Rangers Managers who’d give everything for a shot of glory at Ibrox.
With Barry Ferguson now officially leaving Rangers, the legendary Rangers midfielder will be keen to stress that things are certainly much easier in the virtual world than they are in the dugout.
In the heat of the Ibrox spotlight, there’s no save and quit when things don’t go your way. But having already made serious moves in the game, we’re sure young English coach Will Still knows that already.
Such an opportunity to speak to Rangers rarely knocks for more established managers, but this ultra-modern coach has one heck of an excuse for snubbing the Gers.
Why has Will Still ‘rejected Rangers’ despite RC Lens exit?
Will Still has announced that he will leave French side RC Lens after the curtain came down on the Ligue 1 campaign.
The 32-year-old is making quite a name for himself and is actually cutting short a three-year deal in France, despite Lens punching heavily above their weight with an 8th place finish.
With Rangers locked in the hunt for a new manager, L’Equipe claim that Still has been approached by the Ibrox side over the vacant position in Glasgow.
But it’s claimed that Still – who has also been heavily linked with relegated Premier League club Southampton – turned down the Rangers approach, although it is not without good reason.
In a tragic turn of events, Still’s wife and Sky Sports presenter Emma Saunders has been struck down by encephalitis, which is an infection of the brain.
As Saunders recovers, Still will return to England to be closer to his partner and has said farewell to RC Lens after a thumping 4-0 final day victory over AS Monaco.
“I will not be the coach of RC Lens next season,” said Still. “It was the (first) season at Bollaert, but it was also my last.
“For multiple reasons. The main reason I’m making this decision is that I need to get home. Everyone is well aware of what’s happened in my life. That’s why.”
Will Still credits remarkable early success to Football Manager
Will Still has made impressive progress in his young career after being inspired to become a coach at 17-years-old whilst playing Football Manager.
The 32-year-old has an impressive resume, having worked with Lierse and Beerschot in Belgium before moving to Reims and then on to Lens in France.
Remarkably, Still attributes his progress to the legendary video game franchise, which gave him the training to build a successful team in the real world.
As explained to SportBible in April 2022, Still said: “Football Manager gave me the impetus to want to set up a team.
”I wanted to be able to talk to players. I wanted to have that relationship. I mean, I was alright at football but FM allowed me to have that glimpse of what it actually was like to manage a team.”
