People often let players who are on the less flamboyant side of the game slip their mind once their career is over. One such star is Matt Le Tissier!
The former England international produced several moments of magic on the football pitch that ought to never be forgotten. Yet, somehow, he is probably not spoken about enough in those hotly-debated conversations about iconic players.
Read: African star of the weekend: Rulani Mokwena
From a stunning left-footed volley – from outside of the box – against Nottingham Forest in 1993 to finding the top-left corner of the net with an out-swinging curler against Aston Villa in 1994, the former striker would pull wizard-like moves out of his bag of tricks that would help him become a cherished Southampton legend.
Le Tissier's professional career began after he graduated from the Saints' development structures, the same youth set-up that would produce the likes of Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Luke Shaw and the South African-born Andrew Surman.
The former striker made his professional debut for Southampton in 1986, during a 4–3 defeat to Norwich City in the Football League First Division – he was one of the players who played both in the Football League and the Premier League. The 22 First Division clubs left the league on 20 February 1992, and on 27 May that year, the EPL was established as a limited company.
A few months later, on Saturday 15 August 1992, the inaugural Premier League campaign kicked off with 22 teams. One of those teams was Le Tissier's Southampton.
That season, the forward was ninth on the top scorers chart with 15 goals in 40 games, behind great players such as Alan Shearer, Eric Cantona, Les Ferdinand and Teddy Sheringham. He also registered 10 assists. With 25 direct goal involvements, he contributed to almost half of his team's total goals tally of 54 that saw them earn an 18th-place finish in the first-ever EPL campaign.
Southampton's second-highest all-time goalscorer and fourth-highest appearance-maker went on to carve a career consisting of 477 appearances, 174 goals and 47 assists before hanging up his boots in 2002.
Many also consider him to be among the best-ever penalty-takers the game has ever seen.
Out of 48 spot-kicks, he missed only one!
With 100 of the abovementioned goals coming in the Premier League, Le Tissier is the 34th highest goalscorer in the competition. While that may not be a return that could be compared to the likes of Shearer, Harry Kane or Cristiano Ronaldo, his goals were often magical and watching them over and over again is something you would never get sick of.
Le Tissier was undoubtedly a very talented player. He is also understood to have been an inspiration to one the game's greatest-ever midfielders, Xavi Hernandez.
Speaking to FourFourTwo in 2016, the 2010 FIFA World Cup winner, and now-FC Barcelona head coach revealed that his entire household was "obsessed" with the Englishman.
"In Catalonia, there used to be a half-hour programme every Monday where they'd show the best goals from the Premier League. Every week, Matt Le Tissier would be on the show. I'm talking outrageous, sickening goals. Straight in the top corner, left-foot flick and then right over a defender and score against Newcastle," Xavi said.
"We used to say: 'This guy, Le Tissier, is outrageous and he never goes to a big team. He stays at Southampton. It's incredible. He could play for anyone.'"
"Our whole house was obsessed with him."
It is as they say: "Game recognises game."
Read: Real Madrid 'tell' Mbappe what he needs to do to join them
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.