Spanish club Athletico Bilbao have honoured Saints Legend Matthew le Tissier by making him the first recipient of their One Club Man award.
It is perhaps fitting that Athletico Bilbao have chosen Le Tissier for the award in that the clubs have been linked since 1910 when Athletico first played in their own Red & White striped shirts.
Originally they had played in blue & white halves somewhat similar to Blackburn Rovers, but a young student from Bilbao named Juan Elorduy, who was spending Christmas 1909 in London, was charged by the club to buy 25 new shirts, but was unable to find enough. Waiting for the ship back to Bilbao and empty handed, Elorduy realised that the colours of the local team Southampton matched the colours of the City of Bilbao, and bought 50 shirts to take with him. Upon arriving in Bilbao, the club's directors decided almost immediately to change the team's strip to the new colours, and since 1910, Athletic Club have played in red and white stripes. Of the 50 shirts bought by Elorduy, half were then sent to Atlético Madrid, which had originally begun as a youth branch of Athletic.
So perhaps Athletico had this connection in mind when they decided that it would be Matthew Le Tissier who would be the first name to be honoured.
Athletico have decided to create the "One Club Men" award in recognition of those players who, outside Athletic Club, have spent their entire sports career at the same club and Le Tissier will receive his award on Tuesday, April 28 at half-time during the match between Athletic Club and Real Sociedad.
In a message to Le Tissier, Athletico said: "What is entirely clear and obvious is that your reputation in the world of football is unmatched.
"Many great players have expressed their admiration about you. Pele, for instance, was quoted saying that if you had been Brazilian you would always have been among the starting 11.
"Barcelona’s midfielder Xavi recently said: ‘The man I absolutely loved watching as a kid was Matt Le Tissier after seeing the highlights of his extraordinary goals.
"’His talent was out of the norm. He could dribble past seven or eight players but without speed — he just almost walked past them. For me, he was sensational.
"’We had a programme on Spanish TV with the best goals from around Europe. He was always the star.’
"But for us, what we value most are your values and principles, your loyalty to the same club during your entire career.
"We see ourselves very much reflected in this value and in these principles.
"For this reason, it is a true honour for us to give you our first One-Club Man Award.
"This way you will always be part of our history.
"From now on an unquestionable football legend linked to a unique club with a unique philosophy.”
The man Saints fans called Le God was interviewed by the Basque club on their official websit and is very happy with his latest accolade.
"It certainly was a big surprise.
"And I must say it was a very pleasant one too. I am incredibly proud to be the first to receive this award.”
It is great to see one of the great Saints legends honoured in this way and perhaps it will make some Saints supporters a little embarrassed as to how they allowed a former Chairman of our great club to treat Le Tissier, Athetico Bllbao have shown that football clubs should not be afraid to honour not only their own past but the achievments of others a trait that is sadly missing in some football clubs in England these days.
Southampton Football Club though has changed for the better over the last year and hopefully they will themselves now honour our greats from the past like Le Tissier and others like him.
Perhaps it is now time to consider a hall of fame of those legends.