Watford Appoint 11th Manager In 5 Years - Who Is Edward Still?

Watford Appoint 11th Manager In 5 Years But Who Is Edward Still?

It's an ongoing joke in football that Watford are the most indecisive side in the Championship and perhaps even the world when it comes to chopping and changing managers.

Perhaps sometimes it's been justified but the fact this is their 11th manager in 5 years is outright insane in world football.

That said the new man has been appointed and the new manager has been named as Edward Still.

Some of you likely think that name sounds familiar and wonder whether there is a relationship to another manager Will Still, if you guessed so you would be right as Edward is in fact the brother of Will but who really is Edward and what's his managerial pedigree.

Morning, Ed! 👋

Day 1 for our new Head Coach in London Colney. pic.twitter.com/yi8hNs5eAo

— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) February 10, 2026

Edward Still's Career So Far

Still was a relatively unexpected appointment it's fair to say and his managerial history is unlikely to fill any of the Watford faithful with massive amounts of hope.

He primarily has experience in Belgium beginning his managerial career with Charleroi in May 2021, in which he enjoyed a solid debut season steering the side to a sixth placed finish.

His time at Charleroi wasn't exactly a fairy-tale ending as in October 2022 he faced the sack after the side saw poor form that Still was unable to recover.

After this he stayed in Belgium moving to fellow Belgian top flight side Eupen in November 2022 however didn't last very long being sacked in April 2023.

Things only got worse at his next club joining Kortrijk at the beginning of the 23/24 season and finding himself sacked before the end of September.

Luckily for Still family ties helped him in his next role becoming an assistant to brother Will over at Lens in France in which they guided the club to a solid 8th Placed Ligue 1 finish.

After this it was back to Belgium to be assistant manager for Belgian giants Anderlecht and this brings us up to now where Watford have brought him in as the new head coach.

Troy Deeney on Ed Still's appointment...

[@CBSSportsGolazo] pic.twitter.com/TyVJDxV1kB

— WD18 (@WD18Fans) February 9, 2026

A Very Questionable Appointment

As mentioned Edward Still's managerial experience leaves quite a lot to be desired and this isn't intended as insult to the man but with Watford's current position in the league it's just confusing.

Watford currently sit in 11th place in the Championship but importantly they are only 3 points off of the play-off spots so to opt for a manager who has never even managed in England, never mind the Championship seems an interesting choice to say the least.

Speaking on Ed Still's appointment Chief Executive and Watford Chairman, Scott Duxbury has said:

"Ed's appointment was made on the conviction that this is a coach whose modern and progressive coaching methods fit perfectly with our squad dynamic, who we believe will take the team forward, and who gives us a real chance to challenge for the play-offs."

Evidently youth and the idea of a project is appealing to the Watford board but I just cannot see how right now is the time to take this approach, maybe it does pay off for them but history suggests they'll be back at the drawing board in 6 months time looking for a brand new project.

Fan reaction has hardly been the most supportive of the appointment as well, lots of backlash has come to the board for not getting someone with a track record of getting club into the play-offs and is being viewed as highly unambitious by the supporters.

"For a young coach, it is a big jump." 🗣️@GeoffDoyle1 and @RorySmith discuss Watford's "left field" managerial appointment of Ed Still, and his prior experience in Belgian football. 🇧🇪#BBCFootball #EFL #WAT #WatfordFC pic.twitter.com/lY0aOEO9Pr

— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) February 10, 2026

How Edward Still's tenure in charge of the Hornets goes is still very much up in the air, in a few months time we could all be eating our words saying that it was incredibly astute as Watford manage to secure a play-off spot and maybe even promotions.

But for right now it looks highly questionable and frankly ambitious for all the wrong reasons, this has potential to backfire hugely for Watford when they're in such a promising position, only time will tell.