Marians Pahars’ Dell delight
Southampton’s cult hero on injury woes, nutmegging Jaap Stam and why he’d even play centre- back for Glenn Hoddle
You signed for Southampton in 1999. How proud were you to become the first Latvian to play in the Premier League?
I understood what it meant when I went to the Latvian embassy in London to collect my visa. The counsel thanked me for introducing our country to the English people. I felt like an ambassador for Latvia. When I arrived from Skonto I couldn’t speak English, but I’d watch
Match of the Day every week, see the league table and knew we had to start picking up points. I needed to be at my best and results needed to be positive, otherwise, I could not eat or sleep.
It took Saints several months to register that elusive first league win at St Mary’s in 2001. What was it like going from The Dell to a bigger, modern stadium?
Playing those first matches at St Mary’s feels like yesterday. Finally, we had good toilets in the dressing room! I loved The Dell, though. So many great Southampton players of the past had left their blood and sweat out there – that history helped to make it special. The playing surface at St Mary’s was superb and we could have many more fans at games, but at the same time, there’s no place like home. So, for me it was not comfortable to play at St Mary’s to begin with. You scored 45 goals for Saints – which was your favourite and why?
I scored one against Derby at The Dell with my left foot from outside the penalty area. I watched it go straight in the top corner and was thinking, ‘ How is this possible?’ I usually didn’t have enough power to generate that kind of strike! We thought you’d choose your goal at Old Trafford in 1999, where you nutmegged Jaap Stam before smashing home against the then English and European champions.
Maybe for fans this was my best Saints goal, but I knew my abilities better than anyone. My style of play was about quick turns, then running into the penalty area to shoot, which I could do. So scoring goals from long range was much more difficult for me than the one I got against United. Southampton changed managers no fewer than nine times during your seven years at the club – which got the best out of you?
I think I played my best football under Glenn Hoddle. I remember him saying I was going to play on the wing. I was the top scorer and playing upfront, so I told him I didn’t like playing there. He said, “You’re one of the best three players at the club, but the other two can’t play out wide. Do I have to leave one of my three best players out so you can play upfront?” I thought, ‘ Wow, he thinks I’m one of our best players?’ From there, he could have picked me at centre- back. You doubted you were one of Saints’ best players?
I was always in doubt – if I did something 10 times I’d still think I could do it better. If I scored two goals in a game I wouldn’t be happy, asking myself why I didn’t score a hat- trick. This is just my character. When Hoddle said I was one of the squad’s three best players, I didn’t really believe him but it made me feel great. Unfortunately, your injuries coincided with Southampton and Latvia’s biggest games – when did those problems begin?
Near the end of 2002, Latvia had a Euro 2004 qualifier against San Marino, which we won 1- 0 with a very late own goal. Without it we wouldn’t have made the play- offs. I suffered a bad injury in that game and was never the same again as a fully fit starter. Ankle surgery meant you missed the 2003 FA Cup Final defeat to Arsenal. Did you at least get to go to the Millennium Stadium and watch the game?
No, I watched the game at home on TV with my leg in plaster resting on the coffee table! My big moments for club and country came within a year of each other, and I was injured for both. That’s destiny, though. What else can you say?
Later in 2003, you helped Latvia to defeat Turkey and reach Euro 2004, the nation’s first major tournament. Weeks later, you scored a wonder goal in a 3- 0 derby victory against Portsmouth. Were you back to your best by that point?
No, I felt pain all the time. I appreciated the Latvia coach giving me the chance to be part of that special moment in Turkey. Then, after a year out, there was a little bit left in me to score in the south coast derby. But the pain in my hernia, ankle and groin continued. It still affects me now. It was the same at the Euros. I came on in all three group games, but just wasn’t fit. It was a tough tournament for me. I wanted to pack my stuff and leave, but the manager asked me to stay on, for the players and the supporters.
You left Saints at the end of the 2005- 06 campaign. You weren’t in the squad for the last game of the season, but still received a standing ovation at St Mary’s. How did that come about?
I was in my suit watching the game from the directors’ box. I waited until the players had finished their lap of honour, then went down onto the pitch to say my own goodbye to the fans. I knew it was a special moment. When you score goals you get lots of attention, but when you’re out you can get forgotten about very quickly. Luckily for me, the Saints
fans hadn’t forgotten. Your goals mean you’ll always be popular with Saints fans – how special was that bond?
I scored some vital goals for the club, which helped, but it didn’t always matter if you scored; Southampton supporters appreciated hard work. I wasn’t the best player and can’t compare myself to Matt Le Tissier – he was the best player I ever saw live – so I knew I had to compensate with work rate. That’s why I believe fans took to me. I remember Francis Benali’s eyes on a matchday – they looked like they had fire in them, so you could tell he was ready to put everything into the game. That’s what I tried to do for Saints.