Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama will be making an emotional return to St Mary’s Stadium today as he features for Southampton Legends in a special anniversary match against Manchester United Legends.
The highly anticipated legends encounter brings together former stars of both clubs to commemorate 50 years since Southampton’s historic FA Cup triumph in 1976.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 6:00 PM East African Time on Saturday, March 28, at St Mary’s Stadium in England and will be broadcast live on MUTV, giving fans around the world an opportunity to relive memories of some of the game’s greatest names.
ALSO READ: Explained! Why Victor Wanyama joined Scottish side Dunfermline Athletic
Victor Wanyama returns to Southampton for Legends clash against Manchester United
For Wanyama, the occasion marks a special homecoming. The defensive midfielder played for Southampton from 2013 to 2016, making 97 appearances and scoring four goals after joining from Scottish Giants Celtic FC for a then-record fee for a Scottish club sale.
He later left to join Tottenham Hotspur in 2016, reuniting with his former manager Mauricio Pochettino. During his time at Southampton, Wanyama became the first Kenyan to feature in the English Premier League and remains one of the most successful Kenyan footballers to play in Europe.
The former Harambee Stars captain will line up alongside several Southampton legends including Tommy Forecast, Franny Benali, Mark Blake, Rickie Lambert, Matt Le Tissier, Glenn Cockerill, Michael Svensson, Andrew Surman, Lee Barnard, Jo Tessem, Ken Monkou, David Hughes, Jos Hooiveld, Mark Forbes and Sam McQueen. The squad also includes Frozen Richardson and Pelé.
Southampton Legends will be led by club icon Matt Le Tissier, who is expected to take on a player-manager role in the special fixture, guiding a team filled with experience and historic connection to the club.
Manchester United Legends, on the other hand, will parade a star-studded lineup featuring Raimond van der Gouw, Ronny Johnsen, Wes Brown, Louis Saha, Dimitar Berbatov, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Antonio Valencia, Danny Simpson, Kevin Pilkington, Danny Pugh, Phil Bardsley, Danny Webber, Darron Gibson, Bojan Djordjic and Fraizer Campbell.
ALSO READ: Victor Wanyama pondering Harambee Stars return after Benni McCarthy talks
The match is expected to rekindle old rivalries while celebrating football history and raising funds through the Saints Foundation and Manchester United Foundation. It also provides fans with a rare opportunity to see some of their favorite retired stars back on the pitch.
For Kenyan football fans, all eyes will be on Wanyama, whose return to Southampton brings back memories of his dominant performances in midfield, including his famous long-range strike against Hull City and his commanding displays in the Premier League.
As Southampton Legends prepare to face Manchester United Legends in this historic encounter, Wanyama’s return adds an emotional and symbolic touch, reminding fans of his remarkable journey from Kenya to the English Premier League and back to St Mary’s Stadium for a special reunion with the Saints faithful.