Gareth Bale – UEFA Team of the Year (2011, 2013)
Bale started his career playing for Southampton as a full-back, but now adopts a role further up the pitch, as a winger. The Welshman spent 7 seasons of his Youth Career playing at Southampton, and only one season playing professionally for the club, making in total 45 appearances and scoring 5 goals in a red and white shirt. His fast pace and sublime free-kick skills gave him an attacking edge. A match where Saints needed him the most was Southampton vs Norwich City in 2006: thanks to his free-kick goal Saints managed to win the match. In May 2007, Bale signed for Tottenham firstly for a fee of £5 million, which rose up to £10 million based on his performance.
Mark Dennis – “Psycho”
The English left-back stayed at Southampton for 4 seasons, making 95 appearances and scoring 2 goals for the club. He is well known at the club for having assisted the winning goal which Steve Moran scored in the south-coast derby, Pompey 0-1 Saints. His attitude over the years and his rough tackling earned him the nickname “Psycho”. In 1987 he joined Queens Park Rangers, and since then he never scored another goal. Mark Dennis has been sent off 12 times during his whole football career.
Ivan Golac – Southampton Player of the Year (1981)
The Yugoslav right-back spent 7 seasons at Southampton, initially from 1978 to 1983 (contract terminated), then he came back in 1984 (contract renewed) and stayed until 1986. He made 197 appearances in total and scored 4 goals in a Saints shirt. Golac made his debut for the club against Bolton Wanderers in 1978. His style of play was “surging” said the fans at the time, and he was later voted Southampton Player of the Year. He retired in 1986, after a loan spell to Portsmouth.
Wayne Bridge – Southampton Player of the Season (2001)
The English National Team left-back spent his whole youth career in the Southampton Academy, and spent 5 seasons at Southampton in his senior career. He made 159 appearances and scored 3 goals. He scored his first goal against Wimbledon, taking a powerful set piece free-kick. He played for the England National Team too at the time, and he got also called up to play in the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament. He left Southampton at the age of 22 to play for Chelsea FC.
