Watford Football Club is on the brink of ushering in a new era as Edward Still, the 35-year-old English-Belgian coach, arrives in England to finalize terms and potentially take the reins as the Hornets’ next manager. The move comes after Still’s resignation from Anderlecht, where he served as assistant coach, and follows a whirlwind of managerial changes at Vicarage Road this season.
The story of Watford’s 2025-26 campaign so far has been anything but dull. The club kicked off the season under the stewardship of Paulo Pezzolano, a manager the hierarchy initially backed with hopes he’d steer the Hornets toward stability and the coveted Championship play-offs. But as the weeks rolled by, inconsistency plagued the squad, and the pressure mounted. Gino Pozzo, never one to shy away from bold decisions, acted swiftly—bringing back a familiar face in Javi Gracia, whose return was met with a wave of optimism among supporters and pundits alike.
Gracia’s impact was immediate. Former Championship striker Sam Parkin even called the Spaniard’s appointment "one of the best decisions made by the club." For a brief moment, the top-six dream glimmered again at Vicarage Road. Yet, football’s unpredictability struck once more. Gracia, citing a loss of motivation, left the club unexpectedly on February 1, 2026, sending shockwaves through the fanbase and leaving Watford’s play-off ambitions hanging by a thread.
Since Gracia’s departure, interim boss Charlie Daniels has held the fort, but results have not been kind. The Hornets are currently mired in a seven-game winless streak across all competitions, their most recent defeat coming at the hands of Southampton just days ago. With the Championship’s unforgiving schedule and a crucial clash against Preston North End looming on the weekend of February 14-15, the urgency for a permanent managerial solution has never been greater.
Enter Edward Still. According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri and multiple reports, Still landed in England on February 9, 2026, to iron out the final details of his contract at Watford’s training center. The negotiations are said to be progressing positively, with all parties eager to see Still in the dugout for the upcoming Preston North End match. Anderlecht confirmed Still’s resignation on Monday, noting, "Edward Still is also leaving the club. Edward had been part of the staff as assistant coach since last summer. He has now decided to resign to take up a challenge at a club abroad. The club wishes him the best of luck in this new challenge."
Still’s coaching journey is as varied as it is intriguing. He’s managed in the Belgian Pro League with stints at Eupen, Charleroi, and KV Kortrijk, and has served as an assistant at high-profile clubs including Club Brugge, Royal Antwerp, and Shanghai Port. Most recently, he took on the role of interim boss at Anderlecht, stepping up from his position as assistant to Besnik Hasi just a week before his resignation. His managerial record is a mixed bag: at Charleroi, he oversaw 55 games with a respectable 1.40 points per game, while shorter spells at Eupen and Kortrijk yielded less favorable results (0.71 and 0.25 points per game, respectively).
Some observers have questioned whether Still is the standout candidate for the Watford job, especially given the club’s revolving door of managers this season. The Pozzo family’s close ties with Charleroi—evident in frequent player exchanges between the Belgian side, Watford, and sister club Udinese—have also fueled speculation about the motivations behind the appointment. But there’s no denying the sense of anticipation surrounding Still’s arrival. The English-Belgian coach is seen as a fresh face, eager to prove himself in the high-octane world of English football.
Interestingly, football seems to run in the Still family. Edward’s younger brother, Will Still, had a less than memorable spell managing Southampton earlier this season, highlighting the unique pressures that come with coaching in England. Edward, however, appears undaunted by the challenge. Reports suggest he is "keen on making the move to the Championship," viewing Watford as a club with the potential for revival and long-term stability—something the Hornets have sorely lacked in recent years.
One notable absence in Still’s anticipated backroom staff is Jeremy Taravel, his assistant at Anderlecht. Despite speculation, it’s been confirmed that Taravel will not be joining Still at Vicarage Road. This means Still will need to quickly assemble a new team of assistants to help implement his philosophy and arrest Watford’s alarming slide down the table.
The road ahead is anything but straightforward. After Preston North End, Watford faces a tough run of fixtures, including matches against Derby County, Ipswich Town, and Bristol City. The club’s play-off hopes, while not mathematically over, are fading fast. But as history shows, a new manager can sometimes spark an immediate turnaround—especially in the unpredictable world of the Championship.
For Watford fans, the hope is that Still can bring much-needed stability and a clear identity to a team that’s struggled to find its feet. If he can revive the Hornets’ play-off ambitions and establish a consistent ethos at Vicarage Road, it won’t take long for supporters to embrace their new boss. The stakes are high, but so too is the potential reward.
As of today, negotiations are ongoing, and no official announcement has been made. Watford’s faithful will be watching closely, eager to see if Edward Still can be the catalyst for a long-awaited upturn in fortunes. With the club’s next match just around the corner, the Championship drama continues to unfold—right at the heart of Vicarage Road.