The greatest Southampton lineup of all-time

Here, we will take a look through the archive of the best Southampton players in history. Prepare for our greatest Southampton lineup of all-time.

Southampton are by no means the biggest club in England. However, the Saints are incredibly proud of their rich history and the alumni of great Southampton players is important to the club.

As the old saying goes, "Once a Saint, always a Saint."

That is certainly the case for many players. To some, Southampton is simply viewed as a stepping stone to their eventual goal. However, along the way, many players have fallen in love with Southampton and left behind a remarkable legacy.

So, what is the greatest Southampton lineup of all-time?

The greatest Southampton lineup of all-time

Of course, we will opt for the most iconic formation of all time; 4-4-2.

GK: Fraser Forster. What would an all-time Southampton list be without the big man, Fraser Forster? The Englishman made 162 appearances for Southampton, which is not the most of any goalkeeper, but he is definitely the best.

RB: Jason Dodd. Definitely worthy of his place in this starting lineup. Jason Dodd made 483 appearances for Southampton, the most of any defender to wear the infamous red and white strip.

CB: Virgil van Dijk. Some may argue that Virgil van Dijk wasn't with Southampton for long enough but that argument is redundant considering he's one of the best defenders in Premier League history. To not include the giant Dutch defender would be a disservice to his Southampton days.

CB: Jose Fonte. Regarded as two of the best Southampton players of all-time, Jose Fonte and Virgil van Dijk were made to partner each other in this all-time lineup. The former captain Fonte was the personification of the term "Captain, Leader, Legend."

LB: Ryan Bertrand. Played for Southampton in the same era as Fraser Forster. The England international Ryan Bertrand is perhaps the best full-back to ever play for the Saints, replacing the former Saint Luke Shaw effortlessly, leaving Southampton with no regrets whatsoever.

RM: Dusan Tadic. Not the longest serving Southampton by any means, but like Virgil van Dijk, Tadic's quality was simply impossible to ignore. The fact that he pretty much single-handedly saved Southampton from relegation is enough to earn him brownie points.

CM: Matt Le Tissier. One of the best midfielders to ever grace the Premier League. Beyond any shadow of doubt, Matt Le Tissier is a Southampton legend, having made 540 appearances for the club. If you ever get bored, re-watching his best goals will cure that boredom.

CM: James Ward-Prowse. Played for Southampton for over a decade. During this time, he embodied everything about the club and became one of the best Saints midfielders of the Premier League era. His impeccable free-kick record speaks for itself.

LM: Sadio Mane. Followed a similar trajectory to Virgil van Dijk but much like his former Liverpool teammate, Sadio Mane is impossible to ignore from a Southampton perspective. That memorable hat-trick against Aston Villa is the first thing which springs to any Saint's mind.

ST: James Beattie. Perhaps it was because of the time period in which he played, but the memory of James Beattie brings with it an immense sense of nostalgia. The striker is remembered fondly by Southampton, including his impressive 235 appearances.

ST: Rickie Lambert. Speaking of making 235 appearances, James Beattie's future successor Rickie Lambert made the same amount. Lambert had an incredible technical prowess, which when combined with his physical stature, made him a nightmare for opposing defenders.

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