Barcelona Legend Xavi Reveals Childhood Admiration for Matt Le Tissier

Former Barcelona captain Xavi has revealed that, while growing up in Spain, he was a huge fan of Southampton icon Matt Le Tissier.

The Spanish star, now playing for Al Sadd SC in Qatar, won just about everything there was to win with his club and country, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup, two UEFA European Championships, four UEFA Champions Leagues and eight Primera Division titles.

Speaking to FourFourTwo, Xavi explained that one of his heroes as a youngster was a man who spent his entire professional career at Southampton (h/t the Sun):

"

In Catalonia there used to be a half-hour programme every Monday where they'd show the best goals from the Premier League. Every week, Matt Le Tissier would be on the show. I'm talking outrageous, sickening goals. Straight in the top corner, left-foot flick and then right over a defender and score against Newcastle.

We used to say: "This guy, Le Tissier, is outrageous and he never goes to a big team. He stays at Southampton. It's incredible. He could play for anyone."

Our whole house was obsessed with him.

"

Le Tissier scored 209 goals, many of them memorable, in 540 appearances for the Saints, while many would argue he deserved more than his modest total of eight England caps. A major trophy is also conspicuous by its absence from his collection.

But that didn't bother Xavi, who went on to become a key player in the Barcelona and Spain teams that revolutionised the game with their tika-taka style of play.

[h/t the Sun]