Matt Le Tissier – “Le God”
The English National Team midfielder spent 89% of his career at Southampton, playing 443 matches and scoring 161 goals. He is one of the most famous players at the club, nicknamed “Le God” by Saints fans out of appreciation of his skills and importance to the club. Le Tissier is considered one of the greatest penalty kick takers of all time for having scored 47 times out of his 48 total attempts. He also achieved the record of “first midfielder to score 100 goals in the Premier League”. He was notable in every Saints’ match, and always played with a laid back style brimming with skill and brilliance, always able to pull off sublime goals, none more fitting than his contribution in the last match at The Dell: “Saints 3-2 Arsenal”. He scored the winner of the game, a typical Le Tis’ stunner, when he came on as a substitute in the final minutes. When the referee blew the whistle three times, everyone in the stadium triumphed and invaded the pitch. The goal he scored during that match was his last in a red and white shirt. He left the club in 2002, joining Eastleigh FC.
Alan Ball MBE – FIFA World Cup Winner (1966)
The English National Team midfielder spent most seasons of his career playing for Southampton, playing 6 seasons in total, making 195 appearances and scoring 11 goals for the club. He helped Saints achieve promotion back to First Division in 1978 and reach the final of the League Cup in 1979 (where unfortunately they lost). He left the club in 1980, but then rejoined the club only one year later. The most important game he played in a red and white shirt was “Saints 3-2 Manchester United”, where he played a crucial role in midfield, helping Southampton triumph over the Devils. He left the club again in 1982 joining Chinese club Eastern Athletic. In 1994 he returned to the Dell as Saints manager and not only saved them from relegation but motivated the team to 10th spot, earning him a move to Manchester City the following season. Twenty-four years after Alan Ball announced his retirement from football, he sadly passed away.
Kevin Keegan – Ballon D’Or Winner (1978, 1979)
The English National Team attacker spent two seasons at Southampton, making 68 appearances and scoring 37 goals for the club. He joined in February 1980 from German club Hamburger SV for a fee of £420,000. Keegan was the European Footballer of the Year at the time, and it was every Saints’ fan dream to have him play for the club. He played alongside Alan Ball and Mick Channon, making a brilliant team together, helping Saints finish in the club’s highest ever First Division position: 6th place. An important match he was part of was “Saints 2-3 Liverpool”, where even though Southampton lost it was one of the greatest games of their history for the excellent goals that were scored during the match by Mick Channon and Kevin Keegan. He left the club in 1982 to join Newcastle United for a fee of £100,000.
Dušan Tadić – Ballon D’Or Nominee (2019)
The Serbian National Team midfielder stayed for 4 seasons at Southampton, making 162 appearances and scoring 24 goals. He joined from Dutch club Twente for an undisclosed fee around £10.9 million. Tadić helped Southampton achieve once again their highest finish in the Premier League (6th place), helping them also qualify for the Europa League group stage. He gave an excellent performance in Saints’ 8-0 victory against Sunderland, scoring a goal and assisting 4 of them. In June 2018, he signed for top Dutch club Ajax FC, for a fee of £10.2 million.
