Southampton FC has long been one of the most traditional football clubs in the English top league. They have had great players for a long time and that is why they need to be highlighted. People should realize that the Saints produce talented players.
Southampton are also known for their overseas recruitment, as this is where they find diamonds in the rough that will become stars. They won't stay with the Saints for long, but they will make a lot of money from these transfers. Look at players like current Liverpool stars Sadio Mané and Virgil van Dijk, who were great for Southampton back in the day.
While they are known for recruiting and selling big stars, they have also produced some big stars. If you take a look at Southampton's sponsor you will see that Saints know what they are doing with their business and this area is also about player development. Now let's take a look at the players who can be considered the biggest stars in Southampton FC's long history.
Matt Le Tissier
When it comes to Southampton legends, you should always consider Matt Le Tessier as one of the biggest names. He was a talented midfielder during his time at Saints from 1986 to 2002. Le Tessier was a talented midfielder with an eye for goal. He always put himself in good attacking positions and, combined with his solid all-round vision, was an offensive star.
Although Le Tissier was not the best athlete, his skills favored his methodical approach to football. He always had solid control and balance that helped him dictate the pace of the game. He was also an excellent scorer from set pieces, particularly penalties. He was prolific from the penalty spot for a long time, missing just one penalty in 48 attempts during his Saints career.
Fans of other clubs wanted Le Tissier to leave the Saints because they wanted him in their squad. The Guernsey-born midfielder did not fulfill their wishes as he only wanted to play for Southampton. He had a successful spell at Saints and is rightfully considered one of the best players in the club's history.
Alan Shearer
Although Shearer is best known as a star for Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, his professional career began with Southampton. He played for the Saints from 1988 to 1992, where he scored 43 goals in 158 appearances. It was a relatively short spell compared to Le Tisser, but Shearer impressed and proved that he would be an excellent striker for a long time to come.
With his time at the other two clubs, he ended up becoming the highest scorer in the history of the Premier League. However, this should affect his time at Saints, where he can be considered one of the best players to ever wear the shirt.
Ivan Golac
As a Yugoslav citizen, Ivan Golac was one of the first foreign recruits recruited by Southampton. Already in the 1970s and 1980s, the Saints demonstrated that they had a good instinct for recruiting foreign players. He is one of the best players to ever wear the Saints shirt because he played well at right-back.
He was a more attacking full-back, which is more in line with the modern full-back we see. Golac shone during his two spells at Saints with his wing-back style, which was a breath of fresh air for English fans as they mostly played traditional roles without adding a new dimension to their style.
These are just some of the best players the Saints have to offer. Look at Southampton's sponsor and see that they have a long list of stars. This proves once again that Santos is a strong club and will last a long time.
James Ward Prowse
Another talented footballer who can be considered Southampton's greatest ever player is James Ward-Prowse. Ward-Prowse was part of Southampton's youth teams before making his debut for the club in October 2011 and signing his first professional contract in May 2012. He became a key player for Southampton and was named captain in June 2024. James has made over 300 appearances for the club and is currently one of the best set-piece takers in football.
