Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier was awarded the first ever 'One Club Man' award by Spanish club Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday night.
The award was recently conceptualized by Bilbao to honour players who have spent their entire careers with one club.
Le Tissier scored 209 goals, many of them sublime, during his 16-year career with Southampton before retiring from top flight football in 2002.
He was presented with the award during half-time of Bilbao's Basque derby with Real Sociedad on Tuesday night which ended in a 1-1 draw.
"It certainly was a big surprise and a very pleasant one too," he told Athletic's official website. "I am incredibly proud to be the first to receive this award."
A statement on Athletic's website read: "For us, what we value most are your [Le Tissier's] values and principles, your loyalty to the same club during your entire career.
"We see ourselves very much reflected in this value and in these principles. For this reason, it is a true honour for us to give you our first One-Club Man Award. This way you will always be part of our history."
What a fantastic day in Bilbao. Thank you so much @AthleticClub a very special football club indeed. Amazing reception from the fans too
— Matt Le Tissier (@mattletiss7) April 28, 2015
