MILAN – "Extraordinary" was one of the words which came to mind when Spain’s Xavi Hernandez, one of the great midfielders of the last 15 years, spoke about Southampton legend Matthew Le Tissier in 2010.
The former Barcelona man described Le Tissier as one of his idols, and said: "He could leisurely dribble past seven or eight players, provide assists, or shoot as if he was just walking. I think he was sensational."
Born in the island of Guernsey, just a few kilometres from the French coast where Victor Hugo penned his masterpiece Les Misérables, Le Tissier’s life was dominated by football from an early age. His father, Marcus, played youth-level amateur football and even had a trial with Arsenal. Matt, who was also a decent cricketer and a talented sprinter, followed in his father’s footsteps. It was evident that, compared to his brothers Mark, Carl and Kevin, he had something a little special.
As a youngster, Le Tissier was able to hold his own with older players and in 1981, at the age of 13, he took part in a camp at the Calshot Activities Centre, near Southampton, where he was given the prize for best player. One year later, he was offered a trial by Oxford United. Le Tissier was successful but only stayed with the Yellows for a few days because of homesickness, the very same feeling which led his brother Carl to turn down an offer from Southampton.
Back home in Guernsey, the youngster continued to enthral spectators and terrorise defenders. Le Tissier was a prolific goal scorer, finding the net in all kinds of ways, though he was still very much a raw talent. Southampton came knocking at the Le Tissier family home once again, asking Matt to finish his studies and join the Saints’ youth set up. His first wage was a modest £26 per week.
Matt Le Tissier arrived at Southampton in 1985 but had to wait until 8 August 1986 before making his debut, which came in a friendly against Exeter. His first goals came on 4 November of the same year, as Saints beat Manchester United 4-1 at the Dell in a fourth-round League Cup replay.
The brace announced the arrival of a player who would change the club forever, in a 16-year spell in which he scored 161 goals in 443 league games. He scored goals from all positions, with power and accuracy where needed, showing a great footballing brain as well as a killer instinct. The Saints legend says his favourite goal was an effort from 40 yards against Blackburn in 1994.
One of Le Tissier’s key assets was his ability from 12 yards; he scored all but one of his 49 penalty kicks as a professional, with one saved by Nottingham Forest’s Mark Crossley in 1993. His free-kick taking ability is also matched by few, using extraordinary swerve to beat many an opposition goalkeeper.
A strike which stands out is Le Tissier’s goal against Wimbledon in 1994, when he received a short free-kick from a Southampton team-mate, before setting the ball up for a volley which he smashed into the top of the goal. However, it was more than his goals and performances that earned Southampton’s number 7 the eternal love of the club’s fans and the nickname ‘Le God’.
Matt Le Tissier also stands out for his unconditional loyalty to his team on England’ south coast. In 15 years he turned down moves to Tottenham, the team he supported growing up, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. The decision meant he never won a trophy and prevented him from cementing a place in the England national team (through being a Guernsey native he could have played with any of the Home Nations). As an international Le Tissier only racked up eight appearances, between 1994 and 1997, scoring no goals. There can be no doubt this was offset by incredible moments in a red and white shirt, such as his last-minute strike against Arsenal on 19 May 2001, giving Saints a 3-2 win in the side’s last ever game at The Dell.
The goal proved to be Le Tissier’s last ever professional goal, with the Southampton man retiring one year later. In 2012, Saints supporters would crown him as the side’s ‘Player of the Century’. More than a saint, Matt Le Tissier remains ‘Le God’ for the club and its fans.
Roberto Brambilla
