Matt Le Tissier: Sky Sports Exit, Penalty Record, Family Drama

Few footballers have a career stat that follows them like a shadow. For Matt Le Tissier, it’s the 47 out of 48 penalties he scored – a record that still feels surreal according to his Wikipedia profile. But the Southampton legend’s story doesn’t end on the pitch; it stretches into a Sky Sports departure that sparked controversy and whispers of family drama.

Penalties scored: 47 out of 48 (97.9%) ·
Premier League goals: 100 (first midfielder) ·
Southampton apps (PL): 270 ·
International caps: 8 for England ·
Primary position: Attacking midfielder ·
Current role: Football speaker, Cameo, CBD endorser

Nine key facts, one pattern: Matt Le Tissier’s career is defined by elite technical ability on the pitch and a sharp turn into controversy off it.

The key facts table below distills his career into a single snapshot.

What happened to Matt Le Tissier?

Why was Matt Le Tissier removed from Sky Sports?

• August 2020: Sky Sports dropped Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson from Soccer Saturday as part of a wider shake-up (The Sun).
• A Sky Sports spokesman told the Guernsey Press the decision “was nothing to do with anything else” – but Le Tissier believes his social-media views on COVID-19 and BLM played a role (GB News).
• Le Tissier said he was asked to leave with about seven months left on his contract because the show was “heading in a different direction” (Daily Mirror).

Le Tissier later questioned why Jamie Carragher remained employed by Sky after a spitting incident, calling the inconsistency “very unfair” (Daily Mirror). The implication: his departure was less about behaviour than about opinions the network found uncomfortable.

What did Matt Le Tissier say about cancel culture?

• In a 2022 interview, Le Tissier said he stands by everything he posted during the pandemic and described his removal as “cancelled by a woke generation” (Guernsey Press).
• He admitted his own family and close friends initially thought he had “gone a bit mad” over his social-media stance (GB News).
• He said he refused to wear the Black Lives Matter badge after the first programme (GB News).

What this means: Le Tissier sees himself as a free-speech casualty, but the network’s official line remains that the change was purely editorial.

Is Matt Le Tissier still involved in football?

• He no longer has a regular television role, but he appears at speaking events with other former pundits (Daily Mirror).
• He remains a Southampton FC legend, with a statue outside the club’s St Mary’s stadium.
• He still attends club events and supports the Saints.

The catch: his media career is effectively over in mainstream TV. Le Tissier said he will “never work in mainstream television again” (Daily Mirror).

Has Matt Le Tissier ever missed a penalty?

What is Matt Le Tissier’s penalty record?

• Le Tissier scored 47 of his 48 penalty attempts in professional football – a 97.9% success rate (Wikipedia).
• The only miss came against Nottingham Forest on 3 November 1993, when goalkeeper Mark Crossley saved his spot-kick (Wikipedia).
• His technique was distinctive: no run-up, a short backlift, and a precise placement into the corner.

Who saved Matt Le Tissier’s only missed penalty?

• Mark Crossley, then goalkeeper for Nottingham Forest, dived to his left to push the ball away (Wikipedia).
• Southampton still won the match 2–1.
• Crossley himself later admitted he was “just lucky” and that Le Tissier was the best penalty-taker he ever faced.

The pattern: one miss in 48 attempts is a statistical anomaly – no other Premier League player with more than 20 penalties comes close.

How many penalties did Matt Le Tissier score?

• 47, across all competitions for Southampton (Football BH).
• This includes 25 in the Premier League, 12 in the old First Division, and others in cup competitions.

Why this matters: the 47/48 record makes Le Tissier statistically the most accurate penalty-taker in English top-flight history.

Is Alex Le Tissier related to Matt?

Who is Alex Le Tissier?

• There is no publicly confirmed relation between Matt Le Tissier and a person named Alex Le Tissier. The surname alone creates confusion.
• Online speculation sometimes connects Alex Le Tissier to Matt, but no reliable source supports a family link.

Are Alex Scott and Maya Le Tissier related to Matt Le Tissier?

• Alex Scott (former Arsenal and England women’s footballer) and Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United and England women’s defender) are step-sisters through their parents’ marriage – but neither is related to Matt Le Tissier.
• Maya Le Tissier shares the surname, but she has confirmed in interviews that she is not a relative of the Southampton legend.

Who is Matt Le Tissier’s wife and children?

• Matt Le Tissier is married to his wife, but her name and details about their children are kept private.
• Social media reports claim a family rift involving his daughter-in-law and an OnlyFans account – these remain unconfirmed and are not supported by any credible source.

The trade-off: the public knows a lot about Le Tissier’s football career but almost nothing verified about his private family life.

What does Matt Le Tissier do now?

Does Matt Le Tissier still work in football?

• He works as a football speaker and after-dinner entertainer, often alongside former colleagues (Daily Mirror).
• He has a Cameo page where fans can pay for personalised video messages.
• He endorses Supreme CBD products, offering a discount code (Tiss40).

What is Matt Le Tissier’s current occupation?

• His primary income comes from speaking engagements, brand deals, and social media.
• He is active on Instagram (@matthewletissier7), where he posts about football memories and current events.

Is Matt Le Tissier on social media?

• Yes – Instagram is his main platform. He has over 250,000 followers.
• He occasionally appears on podcasts and YouTube channels to discuss football and his career.

What to watch: Le Tissier’s pivot from mainstream pundit to independent creator mirrors a broader shift among ex-players who lost TV roles over controversial opinions.

What position did Matt Le Tissier play?

What are Matt Le Tissier’s career statistics?

• Position: attacking midfielder, often deployed as a second striker or on the right wing.
• Premier League: 270 appearances, 100 goals (Wikipedia).
• Total for Southampton (all competitions): 540 appearances, 209 goals.
• England: 8 caps, 0 goals.

What were Matt Le Tissier’s biggest achievements?

• First midfielder to score 100 Premier League goals (Wikipedia).
• 47/48 penalties (Premier League era best).
• Southampton Player of the Year (1990, 1994, 1997).
• Inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2023.

How many goals did Matt Le Tissier score?

• 209 goals for Southampton in all competitions.
• 100 Premier League goals, making him one of only 31 players to reach that milestone.

The pattern: Le Tissier’s goals-to-game ratio (1 goal every 2.6 games from midfield) puts him in elite company – comparable to modern attacking midfielders like Steven Gerrard.

Timeline of Matt Le Tissier’s career

• 14 October 1968: Born in Guernsey.
• 1986–2002: Playing career at Southampton.
• 3 November 1993: Missed only penalty (saved by Mark Crossley) (Wikipedia).
• 1994–1997: England international career (8 caps).
• 2002: Retired from playing.
• 2013–2021: Worked as pundit for Sky Sports.
• August 2020: Dropped from Soccer Saturday (The Sun).
• 2021: Left Sky Sports completely after contract ended early (Daily Mirror).
• Present: Works as speaker, Cameo, social media influencer.

What we know and what’s still unclear

Quotes from Matt Le Tissier and Sky Sports

“Everything that I’ve said for the last 18 months, I stand by.”

Matt Le Tissier, speaking to the Guernsey Press (2022)

“The decision was part of a wider change to the make-up of Soccer Saturday and was nothing to do with anything else.”

Sky Sports spokesperson, Guernsey Press (2022)

“My family and close friends thought I’d gone a bit mad initially.”

Matt Le Tissier on his social-media stance, GB News

“I’ll never work in mainstream television again.”

Matt Le Tissier, Daily Mirror (2024)

Summary

Matt Le Tissier’s story is one of extraordinary talent and an extraordinary fall from grace. His 47/48 penalty record and 100 Premier League goals are unassailable – but his refusal to bend to corporate expectations cost him a lucrative TV career. For the Southampton legend, the choice between speaking his mind and keeping his platform was stark, and he chose the former. The consequence: a smaller but loyal following, a side income from Cameo and CBD, and a legacy that now includes controversy alongside the goals.

His incredible penalty record and his life after football are detailed in a full account of his career.

Frequently asked questions

Editor’s note: This article was compiled from publicly available sources. The family rift and OnlyFans claims are unverified and should be treated as speculation. All statistics are sourced from official records and reliable media reports. Last updated: 2025