The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 79

The Observer 5 May 2002 15 www.observer.co.uksport Matt loyal to th i ITS NOT DIFFICULT to imagine Matt Le Tissier at 16, walking wide-eyed through the gates at The Dell with his kit-bag slung over his shoulder, wondering how it was all going to work out. 'If you'd said to me that he remarked last week, as carefree as a teenager, 'that I'd play over 500 games for Southampton, scors a couple of hundred goals, throw in eight England I think I would have taken that at 16 years of Le Tissier, one of the few one-club players left in top-flight football, is retiring after 17 seasons with the Saints. And with no regrets. 'None as he put it despite the best wishes of admirers who feel he is among the great unfulfilled talents in the modern game. He's got a sell-out testimonial at St Mary's on 14 May, the same night as Niall Quinn, and the day after Tony Adams and Reading's Phil Parkinson.

All stalwarts. All players who are becoming rarer by the day. 'I think you're always going to get the exception," Le Tissier says of one-club players such as Simon Rodger, who started at Bognor Regis Town and is now moving on after 12 years at Crystal Palace. 'I don't think it's going to be very common, They play for longer now, Le Tissier points out, and so have more late-career alternatives to extend their playing days. 'I stayed because I liked it, I guess.

I've had such a great rapport with the fans and my life is great down there. I just saw no reason to change all that. My number one priority has always been: enjoy my football, enjoy my life. I've been lucky enough to be able to play my football the way I think it should be played. Southampton have given me the opportunity to do that, and I'll be eternally grateful to Elsewhere, he was not always so appreciated.

You should get no argument putting Le Tissier's name alongside those of Charlie George (one cap) and Stan Bowles (four), from the previous generation of England internationals who promised far more for their country than they had the opportunity to deliver. Le Tissier appreciates the thought. And leaves it there. It becomes apparent during our conversation that the lightness of his personality, his general level-headedness, both inspired him to play with freedom and to keep football in perspective. He doubts any club other than Southampton would have allowed him to do that.

He had chances to move, two very good ones, to Spurs in 1990, and Chelsea six years later. 'I was very tempted to go to Tottenham, because they were the team I supported as a boy. But, after weighing up the pros and cons, I decided against it. Much to my dad's disgust he's a big Tottenham fan. Of courseit would have changed my career.

But in which direction, who knows? There are many players who have changed clubs and their careers have gone the wrong way can't get in the team and end up playing in the Third Division. you never So, the languid striker with the devil-may-care feet opted for secure employment rather than risk failure in an unfamiliar environment. It is an image at odds with his laid-back reputation. Like most gifted athletes, he has always gone his own way. And he found the perfect home in Southampton.

WHAT SAINTS COULD afford to do, apparently England could not. And, oddly, the one England manager who might have been expected to 'indulge' Le Tissier chose not to. Well, it's very difficult to be given just one proper shot. And, basically, that was the one I was given in that game when he started against Italy for Glenn Hoddle and was substituted in the second half of England's 1-0 defeat at Wembley. I didn't well, I didn't have a bad game that night.

I certainly wasn't the worst player on the pitch. By a long way. But I do know I didn't play to the best of my ability. I also knew that if it didn't happen that game, that was it. It had certainly been billed like that beforehand.

It's always like that with flair players: they farewell to 'Le God': Southampton favourite Matthew Le Tissier Is bowing out after 17 seasons of top-flight football on the South Coast Photograph by Gary PriorAllsport esseotial don't get the amount of chances that the workhorses At key moments in big matches, the ball didn't seem to drop for him, either. 'I remember the first England game I started for Bobby Robson against Romania, the ball came to me, 35 yards out, I've chipped it on my right foot, volleyed it with my left foot and it went over the bar by about that much fingers close to touching. And then the game I started against Italy, I've had the header which went past the post by that much. And you think, if that had just dipped under there, and that one had just gone in It changes the whole course of your career. And it would do, of course it would do.

But, you know, these things happen for a Surely Hoddle, whose fatalism extends to faith healers and reincarnation, understood that. He was certainly a fan but, as many players have come to learn, he is as unsentimental as anyone in football. 'Glenn was in charge at Chelsea when they tried to buy me in 1996 and I turned him down then. So I turned down two future England managers: Terry Venables at Tottenham in 1990, and Hoddle at Chelsea in '96. 1 played for them both a couple of times for England and then got bombed out, I don't know what to make of The enduring picture of Le Tissier is one of magic and spectacle.

He has scored some truly memorable goals over the past 17 years. What were his favourites? 'The period when Alan Ball was manager, I scored a lot of spectacular goals in that 18 months. One of the turning points of my career, I think, was the Newcastle game live on Sljy when I scored two goals, the flick over and the volley at the end The career highlights were as obvious as his best goals were not. 'England debut, definitely, proudest moment, mum and dad in the stands, fantastic. Scoring the last goal at The Dell was nice.

My first hat-trick, dad watching, when I was 18. Great victories over United, especially the 6-3. Liverpool in '89-90 when we beat them 4-1 at our place when they were the top team in the country. Quite a few, quite a There will be no loud exit. Le Tissier says it's 'highly unlikely' he'll get anywhere near the pitch for Southampton's last game, at home to Newcastle.

'Wouldn't even amble off the he laughs. 'I've had probably the worst season of my career. The last three seasons have been pretty bad for injuries but this one has it's just toppedit off. That's the reason I've decided to And management in the future? 'Never. Too much hassle.

Doesn't suit my personality. It would interfere with my golf as well. I might try beach football he has lent his name to the Kronenbourg Cup in Brighton next month but, no, just keeping my options Like he invariably did on the pitch. mistress, sheis too -Q': RECORD-lireaWnnnfflsarwJM The Leaders glory from Iilbruck in a first week of the seventh leg of the Volvo Ocean which stood to Bernard Stamm's Armor Lux at 467 miles, and the Volvo skipper of Amer Sports Tooyaiso beat 400 mforllrstlUmthis race, but disaster struck when the mast gway, learfngf lOnttoe Race that has neen anything but dull. The German boat, skippered by John again dominatedsailing faster and smarter, With the help of the Guff Stream, running at more than four knots in Ocean 60 record of 460.

7 miles set In this race in the Southern Ocean fay GumtarKrantz'sSEB. Krantzwasoneof four to achieve 468 miles or more. Including Britain's Neat McDonald fAssaAbloyJ and KevinShbe- Scotia A 1 Iilbruck OVERALL LEADER 2 Team Tyco 3 Assa Abloy $.4 SEB mm iilbruck Challenge NAUTOR CHALLENGE NAUTOR CHALLENGE tyco ASSAABLOY icing turn ASSAABLOY AMER in-. SPORT ONE ftfwiimrjrvlQ Skipper Gunnar Krantz's seven-year-old daughter asks tough questionsShe was interested only In the standings mtherace, whether we were leading ormtltriedmybestto cover up our fourth position with the fact that we hadagood start but I came up short again. She said, "sounds good with the start, but In what position are you TYCO Skipper Kevin Shoebrldge has raced around the planet four times before.

'Another lap nearly complete, but still plenty of racing to he said. Tyco is aiming for an overall podium finish and with the points for the three final legs equal to half of those already earned and shared around, he is not wrong. ILLBRUCK 'If I was writing to my wife, I would mention that I am too old for this said Mark Chriitensen, the watch leader after rapid first-week progress. 'She always asks me to get there as quick as possible, but I am not sure she understands quite how exhausting it is. At the current rate we will be In NEWS CORP Fast racing came to an end on Thursday night for the crew as Jez Fanstone relates: 'A frustrating night in light winds.

Lost two miles to SEB and this morning Amer Sports One sailed to leeward in a different breeze to be on our hip. Boats ahead got around OK and pulled ahead so we have some work to DJUICE weather change, can endupgettinghammered moretnanthe he said. 'Wewnigetthe light wind first. Ihe only potential reward is that we ahomfghtgetthe strong south-westerifes from the new complex low first It should give us agreat ride of potentially 40 AMER SPORTS TOO Having lost their mast, the women face the adverse effects of the Gulf Stream -current, a 'monster' depression about to hit and a Monday deadline to beaboanf afrefghterto Antwerp. Then they must rig and sail to the next leg on 25 June from La Rochelle.lt will be tough.

5 News Corp 6 Amer Sports One 7 Djuice Skipper Neai McDonald sent commiserations to the all-women crew led by his wife. 'I hope they make land quickly and get organised for he said. The fleet is nearly halfway across and we must take the fight back to Iilbruck to prevent John Kostecki wrapping it up with a leg to approach usjrtthow.35 kmrtVsaidDeeSmKri, ttietacttefwn6rrt Uw off the east icebox vypoiirtrtifWaJ mark to keep the boats awaryfromkebeffsJ.We wiil be beading north In rain ajid big winds.The crulte will be over. 8 Amer Sports Too TOMORROW SATURDAY Ecclestone chides 'naughty' Brundle Football Manchester Utd Arsenal Wednesday ko 8pm Sky Sports 1 Freddie Uungberg-Swede set on silencing Theatre of Dreams Cricket Sussex Surrey Cup (Sky Sports 1 10.30am), West Indies India 3rd Test 5th day (Sky Sports Extra 3pm). Football Fulham DoncasterWomen's FA Cup final (BBC1 12.40pm ko 1pm), Cheltenham Rushden Diamonds Division Three play-off final (nv Sport 2pm ko 3pm), Toulon under-20s, 1st match England China (B Eurosport 5pm7pm).

Motorcycling British superbikes (TTV Sport Plus 12.30pm). Snooker World championship (BBC2 2.55pm8pm). Tennis Rome Masters (Sky Sports 2 noon8pm). TODAY TUESDAY Sports 1 7pm ko 8pm), The Premiership (ITV1 11.05pm). Ice hockey Stanley Cup play-offs (Channel 5 00.50am Thursday).

Racing Chester (Channel 4 1.35pm). Tennis Rome Masters (Sky Sports Extra noonBpm). THURSDAY Football Toulon under-20s (B Eurosport 5pm7pm). Golf International Open (BBC2 I. lOpmBBCl 2.40pmBBC2 3.30pm), Byron Nelson Classic (Sky Sports 2 9pm).

Racing Chester (Channel 4 1.35pm). Rugby union Rugby Special (BBC2 II. 20pm). Speedway Eastbourne Wolverhampton (Sky Sports 1 7.30pm). Tennis Rome Masters (Sky Sports Extra noon8pm).

FRIDAY Cricket West Indies India 4th Test 1st day (Sky Sports 3 3pm). Football European under-17s final (B Eurosport 3pm), Toulon under-20s 1st match England Poland (B Eurosport 5pm7pm). Golf International Open (BBC2 1.10pm), Byron Nelson Classic (Sky Sports 2 9pm). Motor racing Austrian GP practice (Sky Box Office 9.30am). Racing HamiltonAWincanton (Sky Sports 2 6pm).

Rugby league Leeds Bradford 'Sky Sports 1 7.30pm ko 8ini). Tennis Rome Masters (Sky Sports Extra noonflpm). Boxing Richard Williams Paul Samuels IB0 light-middleweight title (Sky Sports 1 8pm). Cricket The Cricket Roadshow (Channel 4 10.30am), Windies India 4th Test 2nd day (Sky Sports 3 3pmSky Sports Extra 6pm). Cycling Tour of Italy (B Eurosport 3pm).

Football Brentford Stoke Division Two play-off (ITV Sport 12.30pm ko 1.30pm), Premiership match (Sky Sports 1 2pm ko 3pm), Premiership match (Sty Sports 2 2pm ko under-20s (B Eurosport 5pm), French Cup final (B Eurosport 8pm), Spanish league match (Sky Sports 3 8pm ko 8.30pm), The Premiership (TTV1 10.30pm). General Transworid Sport (Channel 4 8am). Golf International Open (BBC1 2.30pmBBC2 4.30pm), Byron Nelson Classic (Sky Sports 2 9pm). Motor racing Austrian GP (practice Sky Box Office 7.30am, qualifying ITVlSky Box Office 11.30am), Formula 3000 Austria (B Eurosport 2pm). Racing The Morning Line (Channel 4 9am), LingfieldBeverley (Channel 4 2pm).

Rugby league Brisbane Northern Eagles (Sky Sports 2 10.30am), London vWidnes (Sky Sports 3 6pm ko 6.05pm). Rugby union Otago vThe Reds (Sky Sports 2 6.30am ko 6.35am), Canterbury NSW (Sky Sports 2 ko 8.35am). Speedway GP Norway (Sky Sports 2 6pm). Tennis Rome Masters (Sky Sports Extra 2pm). Delayed Back in the ITV studio, Jim Rosenthal reckoned: 'Score draw there with Bernie Ecclestone, I Which was probably being charitable to Ecclestone.

When Ecclestone said he was working for Sky, he meant, in fact, he was working for what has become known as Bernie-vision, the pay-per-view coverage of Fl -'That'll be 12 for the weekend, sir' that goes out on the Sky platform at the same time as the free-to-air service on ITV1. Ecclestone has invested millions in this enhanced service, whose main feature is many more cameras onboard cars, in the pit lane etc than are available to ITV1, but there is little evidence that he is getting the sort of return that he would want. It is estimated that Bernie-vision needs 20,000 sub scribers a race to break even -and you can be fairly sure that if he had managed that you would have heard all about it. But so far not a squeak. At the same time, ITVl's coverage is holding up pretty well despite Michael Schumacher threatening to spoil the season by winning every race.

Last Sunday, for example, the Barcelona race was watched by 3.75 million viewers compared to 3.5 million in 2001. "It just isn't was one insider's candid verdict on Bernie-vision. CONTRARY TO EXPECTATION in some quarters, Channel 4 want to continue to cover Serie A. Now all they have to do is persuade the Italians to sell them the rights for the next three seasons for a reasonable price. C4 have just completed a decade of showing the Italian league, which is an impressive record for an industry that is notoriously fickle and for a product that doesn't do particularly big numbers now that it no longer includes screening live games.

But C4 realise that the Italian game sits well with their image and those viewers who do watch the Saturday morning and Sunday night programmes are a loyal group. OLD TRAFF0RD ON Wednesday will be Sky Sports' sixty-fourth Premiership match of the season, which leaves them with two more to complete their quota. They will hope that Man can keep the title race alive so that the two matches they show next Saturday afternoon will be for the championship. jon.hemlersonraiobseiver.co.uk Jon Henderson THOSE OF YOU who were particularly attentive would have picked up an interesting exchange between Bernie Ecclestone, the boss of Formula One, and Martin Brundle, the ITV pundit, during last Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. Brundle (encountering Ecclestone in the pits): We haven't seen you much lately, Bernie.

Ecclestone: Me? No, I've been working for Sky Television. You know, the people where you can see all the different things that you can't on ITV. Brundle: Is that the one where you can invite a few mates and double the audience? Ecclestone: Now don't be so naughty. American football Scottish Claymores Frankfurt (Sky Sports 3 6.30pm). Athletics World half marathon (BBC2 within Sunday Grandstand).

Baseball Chicago Cubs Los Angeles Dodgers (Channel 5 00.30am Monday). Basketball NBA Conference semi-final (Sky Sports Extra 10.30pm). Cricket Gloucestershire Somerset Cup (Sky Sports 3 10.30am), West indies India 3rd Test 4th day (Sky Sports Extra 3pm). Cycling Tour of RomandytB Eurosport 3.30pm). Equestrianism Badminton (BBC2 1.35pm).

Football Match of the Day (BBC1 8.10am), Malaga Valencia (Sky Sports 1 6.30pm ko 7pm). Golf French Open (Sky Sports 1 noon), New Orleans Classic (Sky Sports 2 8pm). Motorcycling Spanish GP (B Eurosport 9amChannel 5 12.10pm), British superbikes qualifying (ITV Sport 3.30pm). Racing Newmarket (Channel 4 1.45pm). Rughy union London Irish Sale (Sky Sports 2 2.30pm ko 3pm).

Snooker World championship (BBC2 2.50pm8pm). Football European under-17s semifinals (B Eurosport 4pm), Toulon under-20s, 2nd match Ireland Japan (B Eurosport 7pm9.15pm), Leeds Celtic testimonial match (Channel 5 7.35pm ko 7.45pm). Ice hockey Stanley Cup play-offs (Channel 5 00.50am Wednesday). Racing Chester (Channel 4 1.35pm), WindsorFontwell (Sky Sports 2 6.30pm). Tennis Rome Masters (Sky Sports Extra noon8pm).

WEDNESDAY Football Toulon under-20s, 2nd match Italy Ireland (B Eurosport 3.30pm5.30pm), Feyenoord Borussia Dortmund Uefa Cup final (BBC2 7.30pm ko 7.45pm), Manchester Utd Arsenal (Sky.