Football's Greatest Set-Piece Takers: Matt Le Tissier & Jeff Discuss Great Goals, Highs & Lows ⚽️

This week Jeff is in the presence of the man known as ‘Le God’ - Matthew Le Tissier - as they discuss the best set pieces takers ever on Football’s Greatest.
Who won a free-kick competition between Le Tiss, Glenn Hoddle and David Beckham? Which current Premier League star does he claim bends it better than Becks? And who else has impressed him: De Bruyne or Bruno Fernandes? Trent Alexander-Arnold or Cristiano Ronaldo?
Matt reveals his favourite free-kick, which moment from an England match is his greatest regret, why he was so good at penalties and why he’s surprised Gareth Southgate never took up his offer to help the England squad improve their spot-kicks.
He also answers why he continues to court controversy with his views on social media and how he felt to miss the 1998 World Cup after being left out by Hoddle.
Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios.
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0:00 Intro
01:00 Podcast starts
02:00 Le Tiss' greatest goals
09:45 Better than Beckham?
13:13 England rift with Hoddle
16:55 Does Le Tiss regret his social media use?
19:49 Taking set-pieces
27:20 Offering penalty coaching to England
30:00 That ONE missed penalty
32:25 The great modern set-piece takers
39:55 Quickfire Greatest 10
This is Football's Greatest with Jeff Stelling, a weekly podcast where the legendary host sits down with icons of the sport - one on one - to talk about those who made a difference in the beautiful game from a players’ perspective: the top keepers, the toughest defenders, the silkiest midfielders and the deadliest strikers.
The show will also look at those who had great influence off the pitch too - the successful managers, the funniest team-mates and the most impressive leaders in the dressing room - and pay homage to indelible moments from the biggest competitions like the Premier League, Champions League and the World Cup.
Broken down into two individual episodes with each guest, Football’s Greatest will take you inside the dressing rooms of some of the best soccer teams the world has ever seen. You will hear stories that surprise you, that make you laugh out loud and that you will be thinking of and telling people about for days after.
#footballsgreatest #jeffstelling #mattletissier

[@footballsgreatestpod]

Who's the *_greatest_* set piece taker you've ever seen? ⚽👑

[@StewartEvans52]

Juninho

[@r4h4al]

Beckham.

[@JB-Thatisme]

Beckham 💯

[@hugobosswood9002]

The commenters must of been born in 2000’s

[@JB-Thatisme]

@hugobosswood9002 Beckham started playing in the 90's pal 🙄

[@geminisundone]

Phenomenal player. If he was born Brazilian or Spanish he would have had unlimited appearances for his country. No one has a top 10 remarkable goal tally like Tiss. Im 49 and fully agree with his truth aswell. Rose above as a player and a human being.

[@wobblertv8083]

Totally agree ...its a disgrace .If he'd chosen France 80 caps minimum...could have had him and Gaza in the same team ....ffs😢

[@dondamon4669]

​@wobblertv8083 would of meant dropping either Robson or Ince

[@wobblertv8083]

@@dondamon4669 Robson had retired in 91 le tiss at his peak was 93 to 97 .Other countries seem to be able to incorporate mega talented players .Ince and gazza in midfield le tiss as a 10 behind shearer .

[@garethrevell5873]

I grew up as a Newcastle fan in the early 90s, remember watching Le Tiss, what a marvellous player he was, only scored amazing goals as well and I love him even more for his views on things outside of football that most people are thinking but are afraid of saying. Love this channel so thank you as well to Jeff Stelling, the voice of football on a saturday afternoon for years and years, wish you and the old school gang was still on it now but times change and apparently we have to move on, such is Life. God Bless

[@solarenergynow08]

Le Tissier as an England penalty coach sounds to me like a no brainer but as long as Southgate is in charge it's not going to happen.. .... what a player!!

[@ultrakoichi]

He’s not woke😂

[@user-sw2ob4iw1m]

Consider Southgate's penalty taking record - it's no small wonder that yet another crop of cracking players won't win anything.

[@jayroberts4725]

Didnt he win like 4 goal of month awards in 95??? banger after banger... guy was a genius... if he played abroad they would have raved about him. thanks for some great memories Le God

[@nabillarif]

Honorable man Matt Le Tissier

[@ryankavanghnew-in4fk]

Le tiss is le truth. Love this guy. He just loved the game.

[@leeturton9254]

He was the English cantona but he looked like Rodney trotter... even his penalties looked class... languid style everything just looked so easy... and yeah he played the game like it was a kick about on a Sunday morning... extremely gifted

[@Pedropimp7800]

Le tiss one of the best goal scorers in premier league history

[@user-tg6vq1kn6v]

One of the players that made the Prem what it is today

[@hillfootwell]

Thanks Matt for telling the truth in more ways than one. Many of us stand by you standing up to the truth and justice.

[@Brad_Evans92]

They don’t make them like Matt anymore , complete maverick and brilliant to watch , seems a top bloke an all 👍🏻

[@rob1969in]

Merse last week Le God this week , fantastic content ,Matt is a great bloke and its ridiculous that he didn't go to the world cup and get at least 50 caps

[@footballsgreatestpod]

Just EIGHT caps 🤯 Thanks for joining us Rob 👏

[@rob1969in]

@@footballsgreatestpod yeah absolute madness

[@8563robbie]

C'mon... Batty, Lee, Palmer and Sinton had so much more natural ability than Matt....Any England Manager could see that...

[@rob1969in]

@@8563robbie ha you're forgetting Geoff Thomas

[@rob1969in]

@@8563robbie actually Thomas was a bit earlier but he still shouldn't have got picked

[@Neil.R8777]

What a player he was & even a better stand up person 😎

[@padlogic_1273]

Le Tiss... Was a top tier player and definitely a top tier person. 🫶🙏

[@monrush]

His son doesn't think so

[@Pedropimp7800]

His sons wife allegedly started doing adult content and Matt didn't think it would be good for his grandchildren understandably I think

[@Pedropimp7800]

I don't know exactly how real that story is it's only what I found on netflix, either way I personally think Matt is a real stand up bloke and was a great player

[@Pedropimp7800]

Netflix 😂 I mean internet

[@allanashworth1369]

​@@Pedropimp7800thanks, "Pedro Pimp" 😂. Jesus Christ

[@Leer1969]

Le Tiss was a wonderful skillful player and as a man hes true to his feelings n thoughts in life.He shouldn't be criticised for it just give him the respect and remember what a player he was and the amazing goals he scored.😊

[@turns2ashes]

This man made me and all the other Saints fans fall in love with football. Relegation battle or not, he was worth the admission price alone.

[@Eggman_92]

If you ever see a highlight reel of his goals it’s like watching a goal of the month/season each time

[@StewartEvans52]

I remember goal of the month one time being all Le tis goals

[@footballsgreatestpod]

It's the life of Riley... 🎵😍

[@andyfletch1434]

Hes bang on about social media, it was the worst thing invented. We as human being shouldn't be listening or reading each other thoughts constantly.

[@liamsmith7478]

Unbelievable player and an even better man. True to himself always.

[@SamCovington-fh7ek]

This podcast is just Jeff and his mates And I love it

[@footballsgreatestpod]

Glad to have you here Sam ⚽️👑

[@SuperMonkeyElmore]

What a player snd what a guy, never let them grind you down tiss, you are a hero to me (I'm a saints fan) and also a hero to hundreds of thousands of others, I'd just like to add my favourite goal is the same as Jeff's the first of the 2 incredible goals vs Newcastle

[@Pedropimp7800]

Great to see you boys back together

[@amma9518]

MATT LE TISSIER LE TISSIER IS ONE OF THE GREATEST FOOTBALLERS I SEEN

[@Pedropimp7800]

Its rare for a premier league player to get a goal that is classed as one of the best goals in premier league, le tiss has numerous goals classed as the best

[@thekingisjesuschrist]

What a truly beautiful man inside and outside, on the pitch and off the pitch. A man of loyalty and integrity ❤🙏🏼

[@robweeks3238]

Liverpool 4-1. My first EVER live football game. I was on my dad’s shoulder’s as the annihilation took place. Big Match filmed it. I remember looking at the camera thinking….. Upper Milton, M&W Family Enclosure. Rod Wallace was incredible this day as well. Operating from the left hand side, cutting in on his R foot. Rideout scored a good one as well. It was the Le Tissier / Wallace show

[@philipcarthy2977]

The beautiful game The beautiful footballer The beautiful human being He was very special.

[@OfficialFingazMC]

Genius on the ball. I'm a Vale fan but I always had a soft spot for Southampton because of this man!

[@thesatisfiedcustomer4869]

Should always been in englands squad in his prime. What a talent. What a waste that England dont use his services.

[@garybarnes556]

One of my favs as a kid.. From a spurs fan

[@Rossboy2112]

Tiss was class Bergkamp was the GOAT of the premier league for great goals 💯 tiss was a loyal player to Southampton he saved them from relegation a few times in the 90s fact he scored some amazing goals for them the one against Blackburn is the best in my opinion class player ❤

[@robertsims7409]

outstanding player

[@americathisweek.6077]

Great player. Remember the Newcastle goals as a Toon supporter hurt but good player and man. Miss him on Soccer Saturday

[@bilboswaggings0]

Just found this and loving it can't wait to go back and watch

[@vantheman1238]

This is great because Tiss is extremely confident about his own abilities; however, he very graciously says that Beckham was better than him at free-kicks and that he could not get the ball over the wall like Beckham. Extremely honest and I personally love the confidence. Tiss should tell it how he sees it and make it clear how great he was.

[@footballsgreatestpod]

Could talk free-kicks with Le Tiss for hours 😍

[@vantheman1238]

@@footballsgreatestpod this is a great show thank you Jeff.

[@garethmorgan7474]

Thank you for this great podcast amazing

[@footballsgreatestpod]

Cheers Gareth ⚽👑

[@ryanfuller297]

Ian hate was one of the best free kick takers in Premier league history

[@gar8860]

Id say Matt had a classic World Cup goal in him,shame he never had the chance.(I’m a united fan,always wanted le Tiss and cantona on the same team)

[@colingeddes2172]

The late great George Best once said the only 2 players who cud play in his era were cantona & Ls Tissier. 2 maverick geniuses.

[@johnadams2286]

Trying to think of another player who played the game like le tiss and coming up blank, maybe the closest is rivaldo at a push, that shows how good le tissier was, played the game his way and no one has come close to replicating it

[@bigbernie7260]

The best scorer of the great goals since that vastly underatted player and scorer of great goals Terry Mc Dermott of Liverpool.

[@BrendanDobbin]

Matt was a legend great footballer Ty from Ireland Jeff and matt

[@footballsgreatestpod]

Thanks for watching ⚽️👑

[@SaftSweeney]

Matt was correct, everyday science proves it.

[@davidrobinson2776]

The best free kick taker I've ever seen was the late Sinisa Mihajlovic, he made free kicks look like penalties. I've never seen anyone strike a dead ball like him.

[@chrishaddow5644]

best podcast i the world love it

[@GennySavastone]

I actually don't know who was more technical him or bergkamp, it's so hard to decide

[@gammergq9741]

LeTiss had more skill and had a knack of doing something outrageous but for pure technical ability and touch Bergkamp hands down.

[@RK-ei6ym]

Top bloke

[@monrush]

Conspiracy nutter with a chip on his shoulder

[@danielknox2792]

Beckham is a strange player. People either extremely overrate him or extremely underrate him.

[@benpannett3372]

Jeff please go, just one size up on your shirts 😂

[@fatbelly27]

Alan Ball.Legend.

[@r4h4al]

Enjoyed that a lot. Players have got to learn not to be fearful when taking a penalty, when a cross comes in and you are not fearful, so why be fearful taking a penalty?

[@TORRES999ify]

Time to think maybe... all eyes on you and your expected to score a penalty

[@r4h4al]

​@@TORRES999ify But the expectancy is there for good reason. It should be looked upon a basic task, ergo something you should not be fearful about. I don't know..I suppose I get both sides of it, I get why players get fear, & I get why Matt never suffered from fear. Ergo, back to my original point players need to learn to be fearless.

[@TORRES999ify]

@r4h4al not all players suffer from that fear But we've seen people like Baggio, Baresi ,Messi, Trezeguet all miss big penalties too

[@lfclfc5683]

Jeff's buttons are working overtime 😂

[@saintdon4461]

used to go to games hoping and half expecting a worldy .. now fighting the gloabalist..peoples champ

[@CookingwithChefDai]

Not in the premier league, but the best freekick taker I’ve seen play is Shunsuke Nakamura of Celtic. Goal against Man Utd in the CL at Parkhead was a peach of a goal

[@djpaulloraine]

Le God indeed! - Fellow Guern over here as well.

[@footballsgreatestpod]

Welcome Paul 👋

[@8563robbie]

Yep - I played against Matt in the Jackson League for Rovers V Vale Rec. I remember he came on as a v young sub and scored within 2 minutes...

[@tonypoole9493]

Such a modest guy 😅

[@barryjones2387]

"Glen Hoddle thought he was a level above me as a player".....because he was

[@terryratchford710]

Tiss was right about the jab

[@BoxTunnel]

I'm amazed. Le Tissiers converted 47 out of 48 penalties. England are legends at losing via penaties but we don't want his help? Baffling.

[@alancawfield6549]

Juninho Pernambucano Is the greatest set piece taker of all time.

[@mikebond3763]

He was an incredible player. A player who doesn't get the credit for freekicks/setpieces is Leighton Baines

[@nukiepie]

Jeffs a real one. Not caring about Media blacklisting Le Tiss and still being friends with him and not believing the media bs.

[@dondamon4669]

He should of gone to a bigger club and would of been a brilliant replacement for Cantona instead of Sheringham but he played for the love of football and could do what he wanted at Southampton playing and training wise

[@alanssnackbardailyrelaxati8155]

What a player. Not wrong about the current regime and the direction of travel for the uk either.

[@christoffermogensen6018]

Le God❤ YNWA

[@willgoodall1529]

"I can't believe I didn't get more of a chance with England.....although I blanked both the managers when they phoned me about a transfer"

[@madforit2]

Zidane was a great free taker. And in the Premier League I've seen few if any better than Ward Prowse. Be good to get stats on free kicks to see who has the best percentage record

[@footballsgreatestpod]

Scored plenty of them for Juve... Never got a chance at Real with Figo, Roberto Carlos and Becks alongside him 😅

[@madforit2]

@@footballsgreatestpod lovely one for France in euro 2004 v England at the death as well. Another one who just popped into my head actually is Denis Irwin. Didn't take as many as he possibly should have but with United and Ireland banged in a few lovely ones and with both feet which is a rarity

[@westynufc90]

Never heard of him but he sounds hard done by

[@raymondthomadwormald9621]

Decent that

[@footballsgreatestpod]

Nice one Raymond ⚽️👑

[@raymondthomadwormald9621]

@@footballsgreatestpod thank you Hartlepool born n bred.

[@tonypoole9493]

Oh yeah you mean the time when I parted the Atlantic Ocean, well i thought of course I can do that.😂

[@mdg1867]

Reason he didn't play for England much is pretty simple really. There were just better players in his position

[@daveneo3580]

he was the most bone idle player ever lol...he used to just score goals from like 30 yards.all the time as he did not want to walk closer to the goal !!!.and Im a Toon fan and remember so many great goals against us ffs 2 in one match which were goal of the season lol

[@johnpaulmcdonnell1188]

Platini for me was the best free kick taker ever imo. Juninho was also exceptional.

[@footballsgreatestpod]

So good ⚽️👑

[@rickster5120]

Zico was fairly special too

[@guinnessharvey4476]

Nice to hear him talking about football and not his career in medical science

[@SamCovington-fh7ek]

Jeff if you want to talk about Hartlepool United on here we don't mind Never retire

[@StephenBarton-wq6lc]

Class act..always listen to matt

[@hugobosswood9002]

Wiseman who knows about looking after your own health 👍🏽 Also well done for not giving into sky and being like the rest!

[@brrrstikup]

Le God 👌👌👌

[@korkyybuchek6133]

When your in a bang average team with no expectations you can be fancy gotta ask yourself a question why he never moved to a half decent club

[@stephent9677]

Great talent, but England managers need players who perform under pressure week in week out.

[@ryang790]

Le Tisser shud have been the 2nd name on the England team sheet, after Gazza. 3-2-3-2. Taylor era. Team shud have been Seamen...Walker..Adams. Pearce. Adams has height Walker has Pace n height ..Platt n Ince in front protecting. They can play to, so we'd have had extra men in midfield. Then Merson. Gazza and Waddle, behind Beardsley and Le Tisser. THAT team has invention n wud keep the ball at international level. I know Gazza was injured alot , so u cud move Merson or Le Tisser in that Position , with extra spot up front going to Les who was Quicker than Shearer or Wrighty who was a better footballer. Have the rest of Arsenal defence as back up. Barnes had lost his pace, but I'd have Shearer as sub, plus a young lively Stevie Mac to come on.

[@gs8494]

As much as I admire Hoddle as a player the whole circus around that squad with Eileen Drewery is a joke and not a fucking funny one, there's a podcast called Under the cosh and they interviewed Steve Howey and he talked about it and it's eye opening. I don't believe for one minute that his squad selection wasn't reflective of how the players responded to Drewery, a charlatan like her shouldn't have been anywhere near the England squad.

[@gioseg74]

Sinisa Mihajlovic....by far

[@SamCovington-fh7ek]

I bet Thommo is here next week

[@chrismattravers5434]

That rare thing - an intelligent, erudite football player, who thinks for himself!

[@SamCovington-fh7ek]

Beckham

[@lesliejameskellaway5527]

Beckham was a spoilt brat with a big ego. Le Tiss was modest genius

[@stevestannard6004]

Matt is so interesting to listen to. A great orator up there with the likes of Galloway and Oliver.

[@millsy1861]

A huge reason less free kicks are scored is because Wayne Hennessy isn't playing these days 😂

[@Anthony-fk7yn]

Penalties are simply heads or tails. Studying what side the gk dives to most is as pointless as them studying which side a player chooses. When it comes to it, the gk is like well he goes left 90% of the time, but the player knows he's thinking that so he'll go right. But the gk might also be thinking that so in the end it's all a gamble. You can study every penalty ever, makes no difference.

[@kb5509]

You seem to think studying not guaranteeing 100% success makes it useless.

[@chrismiller6317]

Jeff,Matt not being asked to work as a penalty coach by Gareth WOKEgate had nothing to do football🤡

[@monrush]

What makes Southgate "woke"??? Asking for a friend

[@shoddy1993]

Sad how intolerant of peoples views we are these days. Its not like le tissier is running for office. I don't care if he thinks we are all shape shifting lizards, his goals were absolutely incredible.

[@joecavanagh1058]

Played the game the way it should be played. Staying at Southampton elevates his status even further. Exceptional footballer.

[@robertmorris8065]

Prowse is a good free kick taker but Beckham did it in much more high pressure situations big difference

[@TheCAPTAINDESTROYER]

He should of went to Real Madrid and become a galactico

[@joecavanagh1058]

Respect him more for staying at Southampton.. They were made for each other.

[@sharkymoon422]

South Gate not hiring him to help the team with penalties could be the difference that England needed against Italy.. It’s the small things.. Le Tiss legend on and of the pitch..

[@monrush]

Yeah because Le Tissier took his pens in big games. It's the pressure that causes players to miss pens. How many times have you heard about teams practicing pens in training and scoring everyone. It's doing it when it counts and le Tissier (unfortunately) for him never had that chance

[@buzzychilled9162]

Brilliant footballer who looks completely baffled getting so much grief for expressing an opinion as a normal bloke no different from the fans who watched him from the terraces

[@jamesgunn7]

He’s a moron - no wonder you’re impressed.

[@Pedropimp7800]

Le tiss proper stand up bloke

[@piplee1439]

Football is kaput

[@chrismiller6317]

Hoddle great player,to not take players like Le Tiss & Gazza to the World Cup you would have thought after the way England treated him You would have thought through his own experience he would have treated players better,the classic was Ray Parlour was told he had to see Eileen Drury (🙈) he sat down and asked her for a short back & sides he never played for England again,Hoddle as a coach was a 🔔END while I’m on a rant about the programme that was a must watch Soccer Saturday with you lads Thommo;Charlie Merse,I don’t know wether they have done Merse a favour keeping him on a utter 🚗 💥 of a show now run by DIVERSITY DICKS & BOX TICKING WOKE W💥NKERS,I’m done now Good to see you are ok Matt great pods Jeff keep ‘em coming 👏👏👍👍🥊🥊

[@monrush]

Question what does "woke" mean. Asking for a friend

[@TORRES999ify]

He was a good coach , terrible man manager .

[@rickster5120]

​@@monrushit's Latin for Wankers