Ex-Southampton, Celtic & Spurs ace makes career decision - 'I have no regrets' | OneFootball

A former star of Southampton, Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur has just made a huge career decision that he doesn't expect to regret

As Southampton continue to pursue an immediate Premier League return under Tonda Eckert, the Saints will always reminisce over the glory days at St Mary's Stadium as a number of high-profile stars propelled the club into European competition.

Southampton made it back to the Premier League in 2012 and proceeded to spend eleven years in English football's top-flight before suffering relegation in the 2022/23 campaign, which came after campaigns of gradual regression.

Before that, however, the Saints were widely recognised among the best-run clubs in the land for continually punching above their weight financially and enjoying an outstanding recruitment model in which significant profits were regularly collected on players who were signed for relative fees and went on to star in the Premier League.

Southampton secured four successive top-half finishes between 2014 and 2017, competing in the UEFA Europa League for two of those alongside reaching the 2016/17 EFL Cup final.

Led by stars such as Sadio Mane, Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic and Virgil Van Dijk, the Saints were able to call upon an enviable wealth of talent courtesy of savvy recruitment which was bettered by very few, and supporters continue to dream of those days once day returning to St Mary's.

Another notable star from that golden era of Southampton's recent history was Victor Wanyama, who headed down to the south coast in a reported £12.5 million deal from Celtic in the summer of 2013 and spent three years in red-and-white before joining ex-Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Kenyan midfield man remains fondly remembered by the St Mary's faithful to this day, and some ten years on from his Southampton exit, he's now confirmed his retirement while paying homage to Eckert's side.

Ex-Southampton star Victor Wanyama confirms retirement decision

Wanyama went on to shine at Tottenham after departing Southampton, and the ex-Celtic starlet nearly helped Pochettino's outfit to the Premier League title in his first season in North London.

Overall, he would make just shy of 100 appearances for the Lilywhites before spending four years in the MLS with CF Montreal and then returning to the United Kingdom with a brief four-match stint at Scottish second-tier side Dumferline Athletic.

Wanyama had been a free agent following his exit last summer, and now aged 34, the 27-cap ex-Kenyan international has revealed his decision to hang up his boots and the reasoning behind that call.

He explained that he has no regrets over his career and retirement decision after battling injuries, with the Saints cult hero now setting his sights on beginning a coaching career. He's still keeping an eye on Southampton's current fortunes, too, having watched Eckert's men progress to the FA Cup semi-finals with a stunning 2-1 victory against Premier League leaders Arsenal over the weekend.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Wanyama said: "I will say yeah, because I'm lucky to be able to manage my knee injury for about six years and finish like this.

"I have no regrets.

"I've been doing a bit of coaching, I'm now on my UEFA A License so hopefully I can get that and then some experience doing club-level coaching or something like that."

"It was great! I knew Southampton could do something, whenever they have a good run they tend to do it in the cup. I was watching the game and the way I was rooting for Southampton to get back into the semi-finals and back to Wembley, it was just right.

"That will also boost their chances of making it to the play-offs in the Championship.

"The way they're playing, they have found their way. They're very consistent now and I think if they get a play-off spot, they will be back in the Premier League.

Wanyama then spent time discussing his time at Spurs, where he also remains revered by supporters, and fans of Southampton, Celtic and the Lilywhites will all be able to join together to wish the now-ex midfielder all the best as he moves forward after retiring.

Victor Wanyama was a terrific signing for Southampton

It's perhaps ironic that Southampton didn't actually make a profit on Wanyama, who was sold on to Pochettino's Spurs for a lower fee than what was shelled out to bring him from Celtic at £11 million.

Wanyama had been wanting to leave the club, though, and Southampton still managed to gain a decent fee for his signature after he helped the side kick on exponentially during his time in Hampshire.

Never one to shy away from the nitty-gritty side of the game, Wanyama's dogged and determined willingness to break up play in the midfield engine room gave a centre stage for Southampton's more talented and technical attacking operators to work their magic high up the pitch.

There's an argument to be had about just how underrated Wanyama was throughout the Premier League, although those who saw him in action for their own clubs will always hold him in an extremely high regard and it's no different at Southampton.