Premier League | Southampton | Liverpool | Legendary Teams

Under Ronald Koeman in 2015/16, Southampton punched well above their weight. The Saints ended the campaign sixth in the table—two places clear of Liverpool—on the back of vibrant, high-intensity football and a squad sprinkled with emerging stars such as Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mané and Shane Long.

Nearly a decade on, the heroes of that season have scattered across Europe—and beyond. Here’s a look at where each member of that memorable XI (and their manager) has landed.

Goalkeeper

Fraser Forster — Tottenham Hotspur

An untimely knee injury limited Forster to just 18 league appearances in 2015/16, yet he still conceded only 17 goals. By the time he left St Mary’s in 2022 he had amassed 162 outings, plus a loan return to Celtic. Since the 2022/23 season the 6 ft 7 in shot-stopper has provided experienced cover for Spurs.

Defence

Right-Back: Cuco Martina — Free Agent

Koeman turned to Martina in the second half of the campaign, but inconsistency saw him lose the berth to Cédric Soares. He followed Koeman to Everton in 2017 and took in loans at Stoke City and Feyenoord. Now 36, the Curaçao international is still searching for his next club.

Centre-Back: José Fonte — Lille

A cornerstone from League One all the way to Europe, Fonte captained Southampton between 2010 and 2017. A contract dispute sparked a move to West Ham, then a brief Chinese adventure with Dalian Yifang. Since 2018 he has marshalled Lille’s back line, lifting the Ligue 1 title in 2021.

Centre-Back: Virgil van Dijk — Liverpool

Liverpool paid a then-world-record €85 million in January 2018 and were swiftly vindicated. Van Dijk’s presence underpinned a Premier League crown, a Champions League triumph and multiple domestic cups, cementing his place among the era’s finest centre-halves.

Left-Back: Ryan Bertrand — Leicester City

Ever-reliable from his 2014 arrival, Bertrand finally departed in 2021 for Leicester. Injuries and the Foxes’ relegation have limited his minutes, but his experience remains valuable when called upon.

Midfield

Defensive Midfielder: Victor Wanyama — CF Montréal

The Kenyan enforcer joined Tottenham in 2016 and impressed early before knee problems struck. He crossed the Atlantic in March 2020, becoming a Designated Player and captain for CF Montréal in MLS.

Defensive Midfielder: Jordy Clasie — AZ Alkmaar

Reunited with Koeman from their Feyenoord days, Clasie never quite adapted to Premier League tempo. Loans to Club Brugge and Feyenoord preceded a permanent 2019 switch to AZ, where he has re-established himself in the Eredivisie.

Right Wing: Sadio Mané — Bayern Munich

After 21 league goals across two seasons on the south coast, Mané joined Liverpool, evolved into a world-class forward and won it all. In summer 2022 he embarked on a fresh challenge with Bayern, adding a Bundesliga medal to his collection.

Attacking Midfielder: Steven Davis — Rangers

The Northern Irish skipper spent seven steady seasons at Southampton before an initial loan—then permanent—return to boyhood club Rangers in 2019. He has since added another Scottish Premiership title to his résumé.

Left Wing: Dušan Tadić — Ajax

Tadić swapped St Mary’s for Amsterdam in 2018 and instantly flourished. His creativity and leadership drove Ajax to the 2019 Champions League semi-finals and multiple Eredivisie crowns.

Attack

Centre-Forward: Shane Long — Reading

Long’s tireless running and knack for big moments earned him cult-status during eight seasons and 37 goals for Southampton. He re-signed for first club Reading in 2022, offering know-how to a younger Championship side.