Schneiderlin: Saints like a second family to me

Schneiderlin’s big money move to Manchester United ended his seven-year association with Saints – a hugely successful spell in which he helped the club win back-to-back promotions to the Premier League and the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy following his arrival from Strasbourg as an 18-year-old.

Speaking after his appearance in Sunday’s Saints Legends vs Russell Martin charity match, in which the former France international played the full 90 minutes and scored in the penalty shootout, Schneiderlin reflected on a special homecoming.

“It felt good – and hard! It felt very good; first to see everyone, to see old faces – we know that we shared so many times together on the pitch and behind the scenes, so it’s always nice to see people that helped you being fit, being good, feeling physically good and mentally good, so I’m forever grateful to them, so I’m very, very happy to be back,” he said.

“I’ve met José [Fonte] sometimes because we played against each other and I saw some other players, but for most of them it was the first time since I left the club or they left the club, so it’s just amazing.

“I will be forever grateful to this club. I came here as a boy, I left as a man, and I grew as much as a player as a man.

“I came here on my own, it was the first time that I was living on my own, that I had to take care of myself, that I had to be away from my family, and this club was like a second family to me.

“It means a lot and I wish this club all the best and I’m following them every weekend. It is one of the first clubs that I am looking every time to see the result.”

The recently retired Schneiderlin revealed he last played football in March, and had a last-minute panic when he could not find his football boots before he left home to fly to England.

After the game, the former midfielder remained pitchside to sign shirts and pose for selfies with many of the fans who used to watch him play, and believes that connection is as strong as ever.

“When I was doing my luggage and everything, I said ‘ah I need the boots!’” he laughed. “I was looking everywhere in my house and couldn’t find the boots, so I had to go to somewhere at the back of my house to find an old pair of boots from 2016.

“The game was good. Of course when you retire, when you grow up, the pitch feels bigger and everything, but I hope the fans enjoyed it even if it was not very structured! It was for enjoyment, and I think they saw great goals as well.

“It’s nice. Because I left in the summer I didn’t really have the chance to say to them goodbye. I came back with another shirt, so it’s always a bit difficult to say bye-bye properly, but I have them in my heart and hopefully they have me in theirs.”