Southampton FC are one of English football’s leading lights when it comes to overseeing the production of homegrown talent.
You only have to look at the multitude of players from across the years who have started their careers on the South Coast and have gone on to have stellar careers both in England and Europe.
In Saint’s current squad, Will Smallbone, who has been at the club since 2008 when he was just 8 years old, and has so far made 23 appearances for the senior team is the main man flying the flag for the club’s academy
Let’s take a look at some more of Saints’ highly reputable production line, and whether in hindsight the club regret the departures of these names who have flourished elsewhere.
Beginning the list is current Aston Villa captain Tyrone Mings, who left Southampton’s academy in 2009 amid the slashing of budget cuts following relegation to League One.
After a handful of years on the local non-league scene, the centre-back eventually got his lucky break in professional football with Ipswich Town, with his standout season coming in 2014/15 as the Tractor Boys reached the play-offs. After returning to the South Coast with Bournemouth, Mings’ gametime with the Cherries was limited via injuries and a suspension following an infamous incident with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Now at Aston Villa, the experienced centre-half has been a key figure in the club’s rise from Championship mediocrity to the UEFA Conference League in just 4 years, but is currently undergoing rehab after suffering a serious injury on this season’s opening day.
Mings has also gone on to represent England 18 times, scoring twice.