Southampton's top 5 academy products

5. Theo Walcott

One of football's most nimble speedsters, Theo Walcott graduated from Southampton's academy in 2005 and made his first team debut at the age of 16. The winger stuck around at St. Mary's for one season before his talent was quickly seized upon by Arsenal. He has since played in two major tournaments with England and was described by Lionel Messi as

4. Adam Lallana

An instrumental figure in the club's back-to-back promotions, Adam Lallana emerged from the academy just a year after compatriot Walcott. Across eight seasons on the South Coast, Lallana made 265 appearances and netted 60 times before securing a move to Liverpool in 2014. In the same year, the Englishman pulled on his nation's famous white jersey at the World Cup and is now considered one of his country's most skilful players.

3. Alan Shearer

The name Shearer is synonymous with goals. The Englishman is currently the all-time Premier League top scorer with a formidable tally of 117 goals and had one of the simplest yet most iconic ways to celebrate them - his trademark finger-point. Bursting onto the scene in the late 80s, Shearer made 158 appearances in red and white before enjoying his glory days at Blackburn and Newcastle.

2. Gareth Bale

A close runner-up, no Saints fan leaves out Gareth Bale when bragging about their academy. Now dubbed one of the greatest players in the world, the Southampton faithful have fond memories of their then left-back rattling the cage from set-pieces. Not many progress from St. Mary's to the Bernabeu, but Bale's boundless talent has taken him all the way to football's biggest stage. His trophy cabinet now flaunts three Champions League winners medals.

1. Matt Le Tissier

Only 'Le God' is worthy of top spot. The epitome of a 'one club man,' the famous No. 7 enjoyed an astounding 16 seasons with the Saints and is one the club's most capped players. Cheeky dinks, fancy flicks, cool finishes - Le Tiss could do it all. He'll go down in history, however, as one of the game's most clinical penalty takers having missed just one of his 48 career spot-kicks. A true Southampton legend.

5. Theo Walcott

One of football's most nimble speedsters, Theo Walcott graduated from Southampton's academy in 2005 and made his first team debut at the age of 16. The winger stuck around at St. Mary's for one season before his talent was quickly seized upon by Arsenal. He has since played in two major tournaments with England and was described by Lionel Messi as

4. Adam Lallana

An instrumental figure in the club's back-to-back promotions, Adam Lallana emerged from the academy just a year after compatriot Walcott. Across eight seasons on the South Coast, Lallana made 265 appearances and netted 60 times before securing a move to Liverpool in 2014. In the same year, the Englishman pulled on his nation's famous white jersey at the World Cup and is now considered one of his country's most skilful players.

3. Alan Shearer

The name Shearer is synonymous with goals. The Englishman is currently the all-time Premier League top scorer with a formidable tally of 117 goals and had one of the simplest yet most iconic ways to celebrate them - his trademark finger-point. Bursting onto the scene in the late 80s, Shearer made 158 appearances in red and white before enjoying his glory days at Blackburn and Newcastle.

2. Gareth Bale

A close runner-up, no Saints fan leaves out Gareth Bale when bragging about their academy. Now dubbed one of the greatest players in the world, the Southampton faithful have fond memories of their then left-back rattling the cage from set-pieces. Not many progress from St. Mary's to the Bernabeu, but Bale's boundless talent has taken him all the way to football's biggest stage. His trophy cabinet now flaunts three Champions League winners medals.

1. Matt Le Tissier

Only 'Le God' is worthy of top spot. The epitome of a 'one club man,' the famous No. 7 enjoyed an astounding 16 seasons with the Saints and is one the club's most capped players. Cheeky dinks, fancy flicks, cool finishes - Le Tiss could do it all. He'll go down in history, however, as one of the game's most clinical penalty takers having missed just one of his 48 career spot-kicks. A true Southampton legend.