• FOOTBALL

• Sportsbeat Correspondent 1 month ago

Wanyama set for emotional return to Southampton in legends clash

Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama is set for an emotional return to his former club as he lines up for Southampton Legends next month.

The 34-year-old midfielder has been confirmed in the Southampton Legends squad that will take on Manchester United Legends at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday, March 28. The match will mark 50 years since Southampton’s historic 1976 FA Cup triumph.

Wanyama returns to the south coast, where he played between 2013 and 2016 and became a fans’ favourite for his strong and commanding displays in midfield.

During his time at Southampton, the Kenyan international established himself as one of the Premier League’s most reliable defensive midfielders before later joining Tottenham Hotspur.

The former Harambee Stars captain’s return comes at a significant moment in his career. Wanyama has been without a club since leaving Dunfermline Athletic in July 2025. He recently revealed that a persistent injury could soon force him to retire from professional football.

“Maybe soon I will stop playing because of the injury. Soon I will hang my boots,” Wanyama said.

The legends match is part of Southampton’s celebrations of their famous 1976 FA Cup final victory over Manchester United — a triumph that remains the club’s only FA Cup success.

In that memorable final at Wembley, an 83rd-minute goal from Bobby Stokes secured a shock 1-0 win for Southampton against a highly rated United side.

The Manchester United Legends team will feature former defender Wes Brown, as well as iconic strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Louis Saha, with more big names expected to be announced.

Southampton Legends will also include former captain José Fonte and striker Rickie Lambert, who both played key roles in the club’s rise back to the Premier League in 2012.

The match promises to be a special occasion, bringing together former stars to honour a historic moment in English football — and for Kenyan fans, it will be a touching farewell appearance for one of the country’s greatest football exports.