The 2024/25 season marks the return of Southampton to the Premier League after just one season away - a much shorter absence from the top-flight than the last time they dropped out of the division.
They were last relegated to the second tier in the 2004/05 season under Harry Redknapp, and then relegated again to League One in 2009 whilst be managed by Mark Wotte, who replaced Jan Poortvliet mid-season.
The Saints failed to make it back into the Premier League until 2012 when Nigel Adkins led them to back-to-back promotions, staying in the top-flight until their relegation in 2023.
However, after Russell Martin got Southampton back into the big time, it got us thinking, where are the players from their 2011/12 promotion-winning side?
This list will be based off the team that played in their 4-0 win over Coventry City on the last day of the season.
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Starting XI
GK - Kelvin Davis (Eastleigh Manager)
Starting off with the highest-capped goalkeeper in Southampton history, Kelvin Davis is now the manager at local National League club Eastleigh.
The Saints were the last club that Davis joined in his career but also the team he made the most appearances for, playing over 300 times in his 10-year spell on the South Coast.
He kept 96 clean sheets during his time at the club - including 18 during this season - and was included in the League One Team of the Year twice, whilst also featuring in the Championship Team of the Season during this promotion campaign.
2024 saw him undertake his first permanent managerial job with Eastleigh, with the now-47-year-old guiding them to a 13th place finish after taking over from Richard Hill mid-season.
LB- Danny Fox (Winsford United)
Danny Fox was a versatile player who was capable of playing either as a left-back or as a centre-back, but during this campaign, he made all his 42 appearance from the fullback position.
Although not his decision to join the Saints - with Burnley selling him due to receiving an offer they "could not refuse" - Fox was a great asset to the team and contributed with 11 assists in the league that season, including three in one game against Derby County.
At 38-years-old, he now plays for Winsford United in the Cheshire Football League after signing from East Bengal in the Indian Super League.
CB - Jose Fonte (Casa Pia)
This was Fonte's second full-season with Southampton after joining from Crystal Palace, and within both campaigns, he was part of two promotion-winning teams.
After 288 appearances - and seven years on the south coast - Fonte is a legend of the club and one of the best captains in their history, although he wasn't the club captain for their back-to-back promotions.
After departing in 2017, the Portuguese international moved on to play for West Ham, Dalian Yifang and Lille - whom he captained to a French title in 2020-21.
After leaving SC Braga this month, he moved to Casa Pia on a free transfer - doing so aged 40.
CB - Jos Hoovield (Retired)
The centre-back was somewhat of a journeyman, playing for 14 clubs during his career - but it was Southampton that he made the most appearances for (77).
He formed a formidable partnership at the back with Fonte and, just like his centre-back partner, scored on the final day of the season against Coventry to secure promotion back to the top-flight.
Hoovield has since retired from professional football, with his last club being VV Pelikaan-S in the Netherlands.
RB - Danny Butterfield (Eastleigh Assistant Manager)
Butterfield may be better known for his time at Crystal Palace, but his good form towards the end of this campaign certainly helped the Saints get over the line.
Although not first choice, with Frazer Richardson playing almost 3000 minutes compared to his 809, Butterfield started eight of the last nine matches, with Southampton winning half of these.
However, following the signing of Nathaniel Clyne the following year, Butterfield made no appearances in the Premier League and went on to play for Bolton, Carlisle and Exeter City.
He is now the assistant manager at Eastleigh, linking up with former teammate Davis as part of the coaching team.
CM - Morgan Schneiderlin (Free Agent)
Since leaving Southampton in 2015, the Frenchman has never really been able to settle or hit the heights that he once did.
He snubbed local rivals Portsmouth to join the Saints in the first place, helped achieve the double promotion, and played over 260 games for the club before departing for Manchester United for £25m.
He has since had spells at Everton, OGC Nice, Western Sydney Wanderers, Konyaspor and A.E. Kifisia in Greece - far from the dizzy heights of the Premier League.
Now aged 34, he is on the hunt for a new club.
CM - Dean Hammond (Worthing FC Manager)
Hammond was the club captain during both League One and Championship promotions and was with the club for five years, with the midfielder making 145 appearances during that time.
Although not known for his attacking ability - netting just 11 times for Southampton - Hammond was a hard-working individual who was never shy of putting in a challenge.
Following a successful playing career, Hammond is now the manager of Worthing in the National League South - his first job in management.
CAM - Adam Lallana (Southampton)
The only player from the side to still be at the club - albeit returning this season following a 10-year absence - Lallana is one of the more decorated players to feature.
He scored 11 and assisted 10 during this season, an impressive output that earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Season.
Since then, he has gone onto win the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool, before returning to Southampton on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Brighton.
CAM - Guly do Prado (Retired)
Guly do Prado can definitely be considered a journeyman, with the Brazilian signing for 16 different clubs throughout his career, but is it Southampton where he is best known.
After a successful loan spell the season prior, his consistency only continued and he contributed with 16 goal involvements in the league alone - with his versatility being a key trait he possessed.
He departed for Chicago Fire in 2015 and played for seven different clubs before retiring in 2020 - however, he did only make 38 appearances in those five years.
ST - Billy Sharp (Doncaster Rovers)
This man's name will certainly ring a bell amongst most English football fans, particularly as he is the highest scoring player in the EFL during the 21st century with 266 goals - overtaking the record (220) that was set by the next man on this list.
Sharp only played 18 games for Southampton after signing in the January of 2011 but managed 10 goals, with the Sheffield-born striker being sent out on loan for the next three years.
He is best known for his time at Sheffield United where he scored 129 goals, before moving onto LA Galaxy, Hull City, and now back to Doncaster Rovers.
ST - Rickie Lambert (Retired)
The scouser is a legend around St. Marys and it is rightly so considering his contribution from League One to the Premier League.
He netted 21 times in the third tier and a further 27 during this Championship-winning campaign - with the striker leaving the club as their fourth-highest scorer in their history on 117 goals, behind only Ron Davis, Mike Channon and, of course, Matt Le Tissier.
After joining his boyhood club Liverpool in 2014, he also made his debut for England, eventually moving onto West Brom and Cardiff before retiring in 2017.
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Substitutes:
Jack Cork (Free Agent)
Keeping these three short, Jack Cork player 152 times for the Saints before moving onto Swansea and then Burnley - who he played over 250 times for.
Now aged 35, he is a free agent following the expiration of his contract last season.
Steven De Ridder (KMSK Deinze)
De Ridder only stayed on the south coast for two years and made 44 appearances during that.
Now aged 37, he plays his football in the second tier of Belgium with KMSK Deinze.
Jason Puncheon (Retired)
The last player that featured in this game for Southampton was a man who is well-known amongst the Premier League.
Puncheon played 81 times for Saints, but is best known for his time at Crystal Palace - with the midfielder playing over 160 times for them
He most recently tried his hand at management, but was sacked by Cypriot club AEZ Zakakiou after just seven games in charge.
