A dive into the former Southampton player’s life since his legendary football career.
Matt Le Tissier announced his retirement from football in 2002, but has remained a prominent figure in the world of UK sports since.
Le Tissier is remembered as one of the best players of his generation for a number of amazing reasons. The Matt Le Tissier penalty record alone was an incredible achievement: he missed only one penalty out of 47 during his 16 years with Southampton.
And Le Tissier was the first midfielder to score 100 Premier League goals, and netted 209 goals in 540 matches overall. It’s no surprise that Le Tissier was also named Southampton Player of the Season three times, in 1989 – 90, 1993 – 94, and 1994 – 95.
But what has Le Tissier achieved since he hung up his boots for good?
Join Thrillz as we take a closer look at Matt Le Tissier’s post-retirement career, covering his time with Sky Sports, appearances on game shows, and fascinating business ventures.
Matt Le Tissier’s long run on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday
For Matt Le Tissier, Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday played a major part in his post-retirement life for a long time.
He became a regular fixture of the popular programme in January 2004, and appeared on thousands of episodes as a pundit during his Sky Sports tenure. He made up a popular trio alongside Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson.
Le Tissier’s stay at Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday ran for more than 15 years, but ended in summer 2020 after Sky Sports parted ways with the three presenters.
Le Tissier tweeted that he had enjoyed his time on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, and was looking forward to “life’s next challenge”. The former Southampton and England player also thanked fans for their support over the years, and the “backroom team” for their hard work on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday.
What other television shows has Matt Le Tissier appeared on?
Matt Le Tissier has featured in a wide range of television programmes beyond Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday.
He and several other former Premier League players took part in Harry’s Heroes: The Full English in 2019. The show followed Harry Redknapp (former manager of numerous football teams, such as Southampton, Queens Park Rangers, and West Ham United) as he formed a new England club to take on a squad of legendary German players.
Le Tissier was joined by fellow Premier League stars David Seaman, Neil Ruddock, Paul Merson, Lee Sharpe, Robbie Fowler, and other well-known footballers from England. He also appeared in the follow-up series, Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh, again with Merson and Ruddock. But the temporary England club also found room for Vinnie Jones and other famous Premier League figures.
Le Tissier: A regular quizzer
As well as his appearances in both series of Harry’s Heroes, Matt Le Tissier has taken part in many game shows.
Fans may have seen him on Britain’s Brightest Celebrity Family with his son, Mitch, and daughter, Keeleigh, in June 2020. The Le Tissier team took on fellow former Premier League footballer John Barnes (along with his daughter and son-in-law). They competed to win £25,000 for a charity of their choice.
Matt Le Tissier has also been a guest on Soccer AM, Tipping Point: Lucky Stars, A League of Their Own, A Question of Sport, and The Chase (one of the top quiz shows in England).
But one of his most notable post-retirement moves saw him appear on Countdown.
Matt Le Tissier and Countdown: From Dictionary Corner to contestant
Countdown is a British institution. It was the first show to appear on Channel 4 in 1982, and has continued with multiple presenters since.
A staple of Countdown’s format is a celebrity guest in Dictionary Corner, who helps resident lexicographer Susie Dent create words from random letters chosen by contestants. He took on this role several times across 2009 – 10 — but returned to the show as a contestant in 2015.
Le Tissier participated in five episodes of Countdown, which may have surprised some Soccer Saturday fans. But while he won four episodes in a row, he eventually lost to John Hardie (a maths tutor). Le Tissier earned respectable scores, too, exceeding 100 on two episodes.
Le Tissier’s Time as a Guernsey F.C. player and honorary president
Matt Le Tissier was born in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, in 1968. He played youth football with local club Vale Recreation F.C. until he was 16 years old, but decades later, Le Tissier returned to play football with Guernsey F.C.
Strangely, the club had to play 17 league matches within one month (due to various postponements), and Le Tissier had intended to take part in at least four of them. However, he played just one match for the club, against Colliers Wood United, before his time there ended.
And Le Tissier was made honorary president of Guernsey F.C. in 2011, until he resigned in August 2014.
Going into business with Francis Benali
In August 2016, Matt Le Tissier took his post-retirement career in a new direction when he went into business with former Southampton teammate Francis Benali. Their profession? Football agents.
The pair remained friends after they played alongside each other for the Saints, and launched 73 Management to provide “guidance and support on every aspect of a footballer’s career — on and off the field.”
As a football management service, 73 Management was created to provide footballers with representation and mentorship throughout their careers.
Speaking of his career change, Le Tissier told Press Association Sport that the business wanted to “put a bit of morality back into football” by dealing with “players who are interested in their careers first and their bank balance second.”
Matt Le Tissier also said that they wanted to work with footballers who “want to be role models. We don’t just want them to be great footballers, but to also set the right example.”
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