Will Still, the manager of Lens, has spoken about the difficult health situation of his partner, Emma Saunders, a Sky Sports presenter. He revealed that Emma was in a coma as she battled serious health issues.
Still and Saunders began dating in 2024 and recently announced their relationship publicly during the Euros.
Saunders has been dealing with thyroid cancer and, more recently, encephalitis, a brain infection. Still shared emotional tributes to Emma, explaining the challenges of having to leave her in the hospital to manage Lens’ Ligue 1 game against Marseille.
Despite his personal worries, Still led his team to a victory against Marseille, with Neil El Aynaoui scoring the winning goal in the last minute of the match.
Speaking to L’Equipe, Still emphasized that his thoughts were primarily with his partner. He told his team that Emma was in a coma and that her health was the priority. He expressed gratitude for his team’s understanding and support during this tough time.
“It’s tough. We realize that there are more important things in life than football,” Still said. “My girlfriend was in a coma. We had to be with her, we had to take care of her.”
He added that Emma is now stable and recovering well. He mentioned that he had openly discussed with Emma whether he should go to the match, and she encouraged him to fulfill his professional duties.
Still thanked his staff and colleagues for their support during his absence and expressed that he felt he needed to “give something back,” explaining his commitment despite the personal difficulties.
Emma Saunders recently posted a thank you message on Instagram, updating her followers about her health. She explained she was recovering from encephalitis and thanked her family, friends, Sky colleagues, the NHS, and Will Still for their support.
Saunders’ Instagram post included a picture of her in a hospital bed holding a giraffe toy. She mentioned her previous treatment for thyroid cancer and expressed hope to return to work soon.
Emma Saunders has a distinguished career in sports broadcasting, including work with BBC Sport and Sky Sports, covering women’s football and presenting at major sporting events like the World Cup and Six Nations.
Will Still is notable for becoming the youngest manager in Europe’s top leagues. He gained recognition at Reims and later moved to RC Lens. Still has mentioned that his passion for football management started with playing Football Manager games.
