Edward Still set to become Watford’s new manager
Edward Still is set to touch down in England today to hammer out the final details of his move to Watford, with the 35-year-old Belgian poised to become the Hornets’ new boss, reports BritPanorama.
The coach handed in his resignation at Anderlecht on Monday morning, clearing the way for what would be his first job in English football.
At Vicarage Road, Still will become the club’s third manager of the season after Paulo Pezzolano was dismissed after ten matches, followed by Javi Gracia resigning unexpectedly at the start of February. This revolving door has left fans and analysts puzzled.
Still’s managerial record raises eyebrows; he has won just two of his last 26 matches, a run that includes his time with Kortrijk, Eupen, and a brief interim role at Anderlecht. His last permanent position ended in September 2023 when Kortrijk dismissed him after a winless streak of eight league games.
In total, Still has managed 80 matches with a mere 24 victories, prompting skepticism among Championship observers regarding his appointment.
Yet, Still’s journey in coaching is unique. An avid football enthusiast from a young age, he was dedicated to analysing games, even maintaining notebooks filled with tactical insights since he was 17. “I had notebooks, piles of them,” he remarked, highlighting his commitment to understanding the intricacies of the game.
Will Still, his brother and a former manager at Southampton, has endorsed Edward’s structured approach, assuring that “everyone knows exactly what they have to do.” As Watford’s tumultuous season unfolds, the pressure is palpable for the incoming coach.
The Hornets have not won in six matches, with their most recent setback being a 1-0 defeat at Southampton. Gracia’s sudden departure startled the club, which expressed feelings of sadness and disappointment over the loss of motivation from their manager. Currently, former Bournemouth defender Charlie Daniels, alongside Dan Gosling and Adrian Mariappa, has been overseeing the team’s activities.
There is hope that Still could be in the dugout for Watford’s upcoming match against Preston North End this Saturday.
In an unpredictable Championship landscape, Still’s appointment exemplifies the high stakes and relentless search for stability in the managerial carousel. The coming weeks will reveal whether this gamble pays off or merely adds another layer of complexity to Watford’s fraught campaign.
