Southhampton is one of the most popular teams in the English League. They are a team with extraordinary talents. Besides, Southampton can be regarded as a team that is very clever in developing academy players, to bring great players who do not enter the radar of other teams.
Unfortunately, the club which based in St. Mary Stadium is also too easy to let go of its star players.
And here is Southampton’s best starting eleven if they don’t sell its stars.
Goalkeeper: Paulo Gazzaniga
Argentine player, Paulo Gazzaniga, is currently defending the London club, Tottenham Hotspurs. Despite starting his career at Valencia, Paulo Gazzaniga continued his career at Gillingham before finally the goalkeeper’s talent was discovered by Southampton.
With his talent, Paulo Gazzaniga is very likely to be a replacement for Hugo Lloris under the rule of Tottenham. Lloris’s injury was considered a golden opportunity for Gazzaniga to prove his quality.
Right-Back: Nathaniel Clyne
Just like Paulo Gazzaniga, Nathaniel Clyne is also not an original Southampton’s alumnus. However, in 2012, Clyne’s talent was able to be stolen by Southampton from Crystal Palace.
Since 2012, thanks to his neat appearance, Clyne won many individual titles. However, Southampton was not good at keeping Clyne’s talents. The player who is now 28 years old then moved to Liverpool and contributed several important trophies, including the European Champions League.
Now, Clyne whose talent cannot be underestimated is still undergoing a loan spell at Bournemouth.
Center Back: Toby Aldeweireld
Toby Aldeweireld is one of the best defenders at the moment. The Belgian player even becomes the target of Europe’s top clubs. Last season, Toby Aldeweireld successfully became an important part of The LillyWites squad who was able to appear at the top of the Champions League.
Before shining with Spurs, Toby Aldeweireld was a Southampton player. At that time, he was on loan for one season at St. Mary
Center-Back: Virgil van Dijk
It’s incomplete if you don’t include Virgil van Dijk’s name on this list. The Dutch defender is now the best in the world. He was even able to replace the position of Ronaldo in the race for Ballon d’Or 2019. Van Dijk sat in second place and only lost to Lionel Messi who became the winner.
Van Dijk was a Dutch talent who then began his career in England with Southampton. Three years of defending the club, van Dijk was transformed into one of the world’s best defenders when he moved to Liverpool.
Left-Back: Luke Shaw
Had once become the most desirable teenager in England, Shaw eventually chose to wear Manchester United’s uniform. Meanwhile, at that time, Chelsea also came to offer a contract.
Before becoming hunted by big clubs, Shaw first studied at the Southampton academy. Only in 2011, he began playing matches in the senior team. Under Mauricio Pochettino’s care, Shaw was transformed into the best left-back player in the world.
Midfielder: Victor Wanyama
Victor Wanyama is now a Tottenham Hotspurs player. He first started his career in Kenya before finally going to Belgium and looking for experience at Celtic.
In 2012, Victor Wanyama became the first Kenyan player to score in a European Champions League competition. His move to the Premier League in 2013 changed his fortune.
Wanyama who has extraordinary physical endurance became one of the most desirable players at the time. Despite being injured in his debut season, Wanyama, under the care of Ronald Koeman, was able to become a player who broke through the main squad.
In 2016, Victor Wanyama was brought by Mauricio Pochettino to join Spurs.
Midfielder: Adam Lallana
Former Southampton captain, Adam Lallana, has made 265 appearances and scored 60 goals for the team. After eight years playing there, he joined Liverpool in 2014. Although he once had difficulty in adapting, Lallana is in pretty good form at the moment.
He has several times been chosen by Jurgen Klopp and has become an important part of the revival of the club based at Anfield.
Midfielder: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is an original alumnus of the Southampton academy. After only one season playing for the first team, Chamberlain immediately moved to the London club, Arsenal.
Six seasons defending Arsenal make Chamberlain widely known to the world. He even managed to donate three FA Cup trophies to the bullet warehouse team. After being satisfied with Arsenal, Chamberlain then decided to accept Liverpool’s offer.
Although often suffering injuries, Chamberlain was able to win the Champions League trophy with Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
Winger: Theo Walcott
As with Chamberlain, Theo Walcott is also an original alumnus of the Southampton academy. Walcott’s name skyrocketed when Arsenal successfully got his signature in 2006.
But despite being quite famous when he was at Arsenal, from time to time, this player became very familiar with injuries so that his popularity did not go that well. Even so, Walcott successfully became one of Arsenal’s best players.
Now, at the age of 30 years, Walcott defended the club nicknamed The Toffees, Everton.
Winger: Gareth Bale
The name Gareth Bale is of course included in this list. He is a player with extraordinary talent.
Now, Bale is one of the most expensive players in the world and plays in a class of Real Madrid.
His career did stick out with Tottenham Hotspur, and at Southampton, he only appeared 45 times and made five goals. But, Bale is now one of the best players the world has ever seen.
Attacker: Sadio Mane
Being the most explosive player in the Premier League, Sadio Mane made a huge success with Liverpool. He became one of the topnotch players and often became the mainstay of the team nicknamed The Reds.
Before becoming more popular with Liverpool, Mane’s name first grew with Southampton. He is one of the best African players today and still very likely to get several prestigious trophies.
