Southampton are already preparing for life back in the Championship after a poor Premier League campaign that ended in relegation last weekend. There’s a chance they could face Sunderland next season—if the Black Cats fail to secure promotion—bringing the possibility of some familiar faces meeting on the pitch and in the dugout. One such figure is Ross Stewart, the former Sunderland striker who joined Southampton in a £10 million move before the start of this season. Unfortunately, his time at the Saints has been disrupted by injuries, limiting his impact. Should he remain at the club, Stewart will once again be playing in the Championship next season.
The Saints began the season under the leadership of Russell Martin, who had previously guided them to play-off glory over Leeds. However, Martin was dismissed in December after a poor run of form, and Ivan Juric was brought in as his replacement. Juric couldn’t steer the club away from relegation, and now Southampton are in the market for yet another new head coach to lead them into their promotion campaign.
If Sunderland stay in the Championship, they might encounter not just Stewart but also a familiar managerial figure. Will Still, a former managerial target for Sunderland, is reportedly in the frame for the Southampton job. Still had been heavily linked with Sunderland last summer as a potential replacement for Michael Beale. Alongside other names like Pascal Jansen and Liam Rosenior, Still was a strong contender before Sunderland ultimately appointed Régis Le Bris in late June.
Interestingly, Still came very close to joining Sunderland. Transfer insider Graeme Bailey recently revealed that the deal was almost sealed, with Still having agreed to terms and even searching for housing in the area. However, complications surrounding the composition of his backroom staff caused the move to fall through. He would later accept an offer from French side RC Lens, where he is currently enjoying a solid debut season with the club sitting ninth in Ligue 1.
At just 32 years old, Still is again being linked with a return to England—this time with Southampton, who view him as a potential candidate to lead their immediate push for Premier League promotion. Bailey reflected on how close Sunderland came to landing him and noted how the success of Le Bris has perhaps overshadowed how near the club was to securing Still’s services.
Meanwhile, another familiar name being considered by Southampton is Liam Rosenior, the former Hull City boss who, like Still, was previously on Sunderland’s radar. Although not as strongly linked as Still at the time, Rosenior ended up taking charge of Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, where he has exceeded expectations. Under his leadership, Strasbourg currently sit in fourth place and are pushing for a spot in the Champions League.
Bailey also highlighted Sunderland’s knack for spotting coaching talent, giving credit to their recruitment chief Kristjaan Speakman. With both Still and Rosenior now excelling in France, it reinforces the notion that Sunderland’s scouting of managerial candidates has been sharp. Now, as Southampton look to bounce back to the Premier League, either of those coaches could be the one to guide them forward.
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