Dave Merrington can take the credit for many of the great players who came through the Southampton youth system, even before the club moved to St Mary's at the start of the millennium and developed a reputation for having one of the best football academies in the country.
The Wallace brothers, Alan Shearer, and Matthew Le Tissier are all players who came through under Merrington at the back end of the 1980's.
Since then, Southampton Academy has developed some remarkable talents. Gareth Bale, Luke Shaw, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, James Ward-Prowse, Theo Walcott: these are all names that roll off the tongue.
Now, it appears the academy production line is operating at full capacity once more. Tyler Dibling has yet to fulfil his potential at Everton, but Jay Robinson and Cameron Bragg have both broken through into the first team alongside Barnaby Williams.
Nicholas Oyekunle is another who has been on the fringes of first-team action and could yet feature in Southampton's run-in. 19-year-old graduate Sufianu Sillah Dibaga earned himself an extended contract with an excellent performance in the FA Cup fourth round win over Leicester City.
With the Southampton Academy in such rude health, it almost feels impossible that another talent is set to announce himself on the scene at St Mary's.
O'Brien-Whitmarsh could become just as good as Le Tissier
Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh's progress has gone largely unnoticed, with Tonda Eckert bringing through so many of Adam Lallana's under-21 squad over the course of the season.
However, it is the 20-year-old Republic of Ireland youth international, purchased from Cork City, who is most likely to take up the mantle of Southampton legend Matthew Le Tissier.
O'Brien-Whitmarsh has all the qualities. He is a two-footed attacking midfielder with an eye for the spectacular.
😮💨 @JoeOBW!
— Accrington Stanley (@ASFCofficial) March 12, 2025
Twelve months ago, O'Brien Whitmarsh had a successful loan period at Accrington Stanley, where he scored three times in 13 appearances before returning to St Mary's.
Either side of his loan spell, the 20-year-old scored seven times for the under-21s in PL2 and his eye for goal is what makes him so similar to Le Tiss.
Promotion won't slow O-Brien Whitmarsh's development
Whether Southampton are promoted or remain in the Championship could make a big difference to O'Brien-Whitmarsh next season. If they are promoted, @JoeOBW (X handle) could go out on loan to get minutes at a good level. If not, he could be integrated fully to the first team.
If that happens, he could be the obvious replacement for Finn Azaz, who would almost certainly leave for a top-flight club next season.
It's reasonable to believe there may never be another player quite like Matthew Le Tissier. But in O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Southampton might just have the next best thing waiting in the wings.