Matt Le Tissier

Early career

Le Tissier was born in Guernsey, a British crown dependency, and played youth football on the island with Vale Recreation between the ages of seven and sixteen. At fifteen, he had a trial at English club Oxford United, but nothing came of it.

Southampton

Signing for Southampton on Youth Training Scheme forms in 1985, and then signing professional forms in October 1986, Le Tissier made his club debut in a 4–3 defeat at Norwich City in the First Division, and by the end of that season had scored six goals in 24 league games, including a hat-trick against Leicester City in the league. He scored his first two competitive goals in a League Cup third-round replay at home to Manchester United on 4 November 1986, a game which Southampton won 4–1 and was Ron Atkinson's last in charge of the visitors, his sacking coming within 48 hours of the result. Le Tissier made 19 first team league appearances in the 1987–88 season, failing to score, but in the 1988–89 season, rediscovered his scoring touch and reclaimed his first team place, scoring nine times in 28 league games. Le Tissier was voted PFA Young Player of the Year for the 1989–90 season, in which he was one of the league's top goalscorers with 20 goals as Southampton finished seventh in the First Division, the club's highest finish for five years. Le Tissier's highest-scoring league season was in the 1993–94 season, in which he scored 25 league goals. The following season, he won the Match of the…

Le Tissier represented Guernsey's under-15 side, playing in the 1983 Muratti Vase final against Jersey U15. Le Tissier chose to play for England, joining a relatively small group of players who were not born in the country, and earned eight caps over three years. Guernsey, although largely self-governing, does not have an official FIFA national team, which made Le Tissier, as a British passport holder, eligible to play for England. He was picked by the manager Terry Venables to start the ill-fated friendly match against the Republic of Ireland at Lansdowne Road, on 15 February 1995. With Ireland leading from a 22nd-minute goal by David Kelly, a group of England fans rioted, causing the Dutch referee Dick Jol to abandon the match. In the run-up to the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Le Tissier scored a hat-trick in a 4–1 victory for England B against Russia B at Loftus Road; despite this, he was overlooked by manager Glenn Hoddle for the final squad. He never played for England again after the tournament.

Le Tissier was a creative and technically gifted attacking midfielder, with an eye for goal, known for his ball striking, and ability to get into good attacking positions, in addition to his vision, and ability to create chances for teammates; these abilities also enabled him to play as a supporting striker on occasion, or even on the right wing, although this was not his favoured position. Despite his poor work-rate, and lack of notable pace or stamina, he was known for his excellent control, technique, balance, and dribbling skills, as well as his intelligence on the ball, and his use of tricks and feints, which allowed him to beat opponents. He was also known for his extreme accuracy on penalties. Former Barcelona player and manager Xavi Hernandez idolised Le Tissier in his youth.

Le Tissier married his childhood sweetheart Cathy, and had two children. The couple divorced in 1997; Cathy and the children moved back to Guernsey, after which he had a relationship with Home and Away and Emmerdale actress Emily Symons, before marrying Angela Nabulsi in April 2008 in a small ceremony. Together, they have one daughter. All three of Le Tissier's brothers – Mark, Kevin and Carl – also played football, but never professionally. Mark is currently secretary of Guernsey. Le Tissier is not related to fellow Guernsey-born football player Maya Le Tissier, although her father did play football with him.