10 Players You Totally Forgot Played For Southampton

2. Ronny Johnsen

Well remembered as a regular in the heart of the Manchester United defence for his first three years at the club, Johnsen formed a strong defensive partnership with Jaap Stam as part of United's treble winning year in 1999. What he is less remembered for is his brief abortive Southampton career just five years after collecting his treble medals. The year after the treble win had been a bad one for Johnsen, who had missed most of the season through injury. On his return he was never quite the player he was before and his fitness remained in doubt. Released at the end of his Man United contract, Johnsen spent two years at Aston Villa before he was also released by them too. It was at this point that Southampton came in for him. Severely lacking in defensive cover, with the increasingly obviously useless Jelle van Damme the only new defender to arrive that summer, Southampton gave Johnsen a trial in August 2004 with a view to signing him permanently. Johnsen played one friendly, a win over Chievo Verona, before Saints and short lived manager Paul Sturrock decided not to take up the option of giving the Norwegian a permanent deal, citing his past injury troubles. Johnsen instead joined Newcastle where fitness did indeed limit his starting opportunities. Southampton, for their part, were relegated that year.