Emotional Will Still reveals Sky Sports presenter girlfriend ‘was in a coma’ as Lens manager lifts lid on anguish of leaving her in hospital before inspiring French side to victory over Marseille

Will Still has paid an emotional tribute to Sky Sports presenter and girlfriend Emma Saunders after she revealed she has a brain infection.

Saunders, who works as a presenter and match day reporter for Sky, was treated for thyroid cancer at the start of the current season and is now recovering from a brain infection called encephalitis.

Still was forced to leave her in hospital to fulfil his duties as manager of Ligue 1 outfit Lens as they prepared for a tough trip to second-place Marseille.

He inspired a dramatic 1-0 win at the Stade Velodrome, with Neil El Aynaoui scoring a 94th minute winner to steal all three points.

But despite joy on the pitch, Still admits he remains racked with anguish as his significant other battles towards recovery.

‘It’s tough,’ he said via L’Equipe. ‘We realise that there are more important things in life than a football match or a shot that goes into the top corner. 

Will Still left her bedside to overseen Lens 1-0 victory over Marseille in Ligue 1 on Saturday

 Neil El Aynaoui scored a 94th-minute goal to steal all three points for Still’s side

‘I was honest with the guys. My girlfriend was in a coma. We had to be with her, we had to take care of her. The group reacted admirably well. 

‘My girlfriend is stable, she’s fine. That’s the most important thing. When I came back last Saturday, I knew she was in the best possible place to get treatment. 

‘I asked her the question openly: ‘Do I go, do I not go?’ She said to me: ‘You have to go.’ 

‘I thank the staff and my brothers who were there to do the work when I wasn’t there. I felt like I had to give something back, hence the frustration and disappointment last week.’

She posted a picture to her Instagram account from her hospital bed on Friday, explaining her situation to her 71,500 followers and thanking her English manager boyfriend in a heartwarming post.

Saunders began dating coach Will Still, 32, who is currently in charge of Lens in France, last year and the duo went public with their relationship during Euro 2024.

Holding a stuffed giraffe teddy, she went onto open up on her recent condition and fans and colleagues flooded the comments section with messages of support.

The likes of commentator Pien Meulensteen and presenter Hayley McQueen were among those to send messages of goodwill, with the post receiving thousands of likes within hours of being shared.

Saunders is in a relationship with English manager Still (right), who is in charge of Lens

Saunders shared the update from her hospital bed, where she was holding a stuffed giraffe

The caption read: ‘Hi folks. Unfortunately life took a bit of an unexpected turn a couple of weeks ago and I’m now off work while I recover from Encephalitis – an infection of the brain.

‘I hope it wont be long until I’m back to see out the end of 2024/25 – especially after missing part of the start of the season before this when I was treated for Thyroid cancer.

‘So, as I spend time now recovering and rebuilding again – I just wanted to thank my family & friends for their rock solid support, my colleagues at Sky for their patience allowing me the time to heal, and our wonderful NHS for their extraordinary kindness and care.

‘And of course you Will Still just for being you & being there for me.’

In her career, Saunders has also worked for the likes of BBC Sport, fronting women’s football on the channel alongside her work at Sky.

Seen as a trailblazer for women’s broadcasting in sport and football, she’s also worked as a stadium presenter for major sporting events including England internationals, the World Cup, Six Nations Rugby matches, and the first-ever MLB game in the UK.

Starting off her broadcasting work on the student radio at the University of Southampton, she soon joined the BBC’s reporting scheme with a placement in London before embarking on a post-graduate scheme and joining Watford on the club’s in-house channels.

She also became the first-ever female stadium announcer at a Premier League club in the process, and began working at both Sky and BBC as her career progressed.

Still and Saunders have been dating since last year, going public with their relationship during Euro 2024

Saunders has worked for the likes of Sky and BBC after previously spending time with Watford

She is seen as a trailblazer for women’s broadcasting in sport and football for her work

A number of colleagues and others in the industry flooded the comments section to wish her well – pictured, Gary Neville

Still, meanwhile, went viral a matter of years ago when he became the youngest manager in Europe’s top five leagues as the boss of Reims in France at the age of 30.

Aged 31 at the time, Still posted two photos of himself and Saunders during Euro 2024 alongside two emojis – one of a football and the other depicting a heart. Saunders was tagged in the post.

He was born in Belgium but both of his parents are English.

Meulensteen, meanwhile, commented on the post: ‘Oh Emma, wishing you a speedy recovery and sending lots of love.’

McQueen added: ‘Oh my gosh Emma. So shocked to read this but sending much love to you & hoping you’re back on our screen soon!!! Lots of love x’

Becky Ives, who works for TNT Sports, wrote: ‘Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry to read this! Sending you so much love & wishing you a speedy recovery!’

Soccer Saturday’s Simon Thomas, meanwhile, posted: ‘So sorry to hear you’ve gone through this Emma. You’re missed! Look after yourself and hope you’re feeling much better soon x’

Emma Paton, Clinton Morrison and Ben Foster were also among those to comment on the post.