Three Years Ago Today...

[Saint-Armstrong]

...Markus Liebherr completed his takeover of Southampton Football Club.

I don't really know what else to say. I'll do my best.

I look at us now and it's all changed. We look stable, progressive and forward-thinking, whilst playing at the top level. Hopefully this is just the start. But the 5 year plan Markus and Nicola promised us? They did it, for that we will all be eternally grateful for.

It's gone quite fast when I look back on it now, but within 3 years we've had two promotions, a trophy win at Wembley, and smashed club records left, right and centre. Not to forget a return to the Premier League after 7 years of absence, and we"re back with sensible management, whilst also making a club record signing in the process.

Now is a great time to be a fan of SFC, a reason to be proud and hold your head high has been well and truly restored.

Thanks Markus. Gone but never forgotten. A true Southampton legend.

Up The Saints and roll on 2012-13 in the Premier League!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...on/8136389.stm

[beatlesaint]

What a wonderful ride we have been on in the past 3 years.

Thankyou Markus

[Islander]

RIP Markus and thank you.
It's been a truly amazing 3 years and I will never forget just how rock bottom we were and how I felt when I knew we were saved.
We have been on an incredible journey in that time and I am so grateful to Markus (and now his famil)y and also to NC's vision.

[Saint_clark]

Reading through the comments on 606 is interesting. A fan of another club made a comment about probably getting back to the Prem in 3 seasons.

[Thedelldays]

great isn't it...when we could not buy a win for the first few games.....now here we are, making good signings for a premier league campaign

I thought we would get here but not in 3 seasons FFS

[Saint Fan CaM]

...Markus Liebherr completed his takeover of Southampton Football Club.

I don't really know what else to say. I'll do my best.

I look at us now and it's all changed. We look stable, progressive and forward-thinking, whilst playing at the top level. Hopefully this is just the start. But the 5 year plan Markus and Nicola promised us? They did it, for that we will all be eternally grateful for.

It's gone quite fast when I look back on it now, but within 3 years we've had two promotions, a trophy win at Wembley, and smashed club records left, right and centre. Not to forget a return to the Premier League after 7 years of absence, and we"re back with sensible management, whilst also making a club record signing in the process.

Now is a great time to be a fan of SFC, a reason to be proud and hold your head high has been well and truly restored.

Thanks Markus. Gone but never forgotten. A true Southampton legend.

Up The Saints and roll on 2012-13 in the Premier League!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...on/8136389.stm

Thanks. I thought sentiment like that was gone forever from this forum. Great words about a great man.

[Turkish]

Tinged with a bit of sadness that he's not here to see it.

[saintmatt]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...on/8136389.stm

"We should not expect instant success" - but that's what you delivered Markus.. RIP. So glad he got to see 55,000 of us win at Wembley - hopefully, somewhere, he realises quite how happy he's made quite so many.

[scotty]

Agree with all the above, what a three years it has been.

On a side note, check the link St Armstrong posted, and look to the right under "latest news". Right underneath our new signings, third one down, theres a story that made me choke on my coffee.....

[Foxstone]

Tinged with a bit of sadness that he's not here to see it.

Hear Hear

[latter day saint]

what an amazing 3 years its been. just doesn't seem real that it only 3 years though.
thank you Markus & Nicola for seeing the potential of this great club & taking it back where it belongs
UTS !

[Toadhall Saint]

Tinged with a bit of sadness that he's not here to see it.

Yep - can you imagine that big radiant smile on the last game of the season? He wouldn't have had enough memory on his camera!

[sfcuk fan]

If I met an actual genie in a lamp that really could give me 3 wishes . . . .

. . . without a doubt I would use one wish to wish that Markus was here today to witness the fullfilment of his dream and witness our first match in the Premier League along with his little camera !

Bless him, true Saint, thank you Markus !

[scotty]

If I met an actual genie in a lamp that really could give me 3 wishes . . . .

. . . without a doubt I would use one wish to wish that Markus was here today to witness the fullfilment of his dream and witness our first match in the Premier League along with his little camera !

Bless him, true Saint, thank you Markus !

...and the second wish would be that we stuffed Citeh 4 - 0, with a hat trick from Rickie?

[trousers]

Thanks again Mr Liebherr. Never forgotten. I'll keep the avatar until we qualify for the champion's league. Or I may keep it for longer than just one more season.... :-)

RIP Markus. Always in our thoughts.

[Under Weststand]

Certainly been a great 3-years, I echo the feelings of regret that Markus was not here to see it!

[Suhari]

What an amazing guy; true Saint. Simply brilliant time to be a Southampton fan - and all thanks to him.

Cheers Markus.

[Jimmy_D]

Because of Markus, I can do that which most people take for granted. I can go on a Saturday and watch the team I grew up supporting.

For that I will always be grateful to him.

[Katalinic]

When he took over I was just happy to still have a team to support let alone even dream we would be in the Premier League 3 years later. As Turkish said, tinged with sadness that Markus is not here to see it - "thanks" doesn't even begin to cover it.

[Saint J 77]

Happy Markus Liebherr day everyone . Perhaps today should known as a Saints day in Southampton, in his memory?

[Danish Saint]

Thanks big man! You saved our club and build all this. Never been more positive supporting Saints....

Keep it up Nicola, in the spirit of Markus!

[Kingsland Red]

Living in a Liebherr Wonderland. Thank you Big Man !

[Whitey Grandad]

Thanks Markus. Shame you couldn't be here with us but you knew where we were going.

[SuperSAINT]

Great post Saint-Armstrong.

What an amazing 3 years we've had. Seems like a long time ago we were getting spanked 3-0 by Swindon away!

Thanks Markus.

[SNSUN]

Until somebody comes along and spoils things one day, Mr Liebherr set in place a legacy that will see the club thrive at the top of British football for years to come. We feel deep affection for someone that made something we love better, especially as we were a car crash beforehand. You'll never be forgotten, and you'll live on in our history.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

3 years ago yesterday I would never have envisaged us ever being where we are now, perhaps not just at this point, but ever.

Thank you so much Markus, in football terms, these have the best three years of my life. What you have given us will never be forgotten. A mention should go to Nicola Cortese as well.

I sincerely hope you are now at peace you wonderful hero to our humble little football club.

[aintforever]

When you think of how bad it got when we were in administration it seems like a miracle to be where we are now. It's just a shame Marcus is not around to see it all happen.

I distinctly remember being at an airport about 3 years ago, picking up a paper and reading about how we could go out of existence and pompey were lining up another billionaire. What a fantastic reversal of fortune.

[BlakeySFC]

Absolute legend.

A true Saint forever. RIP Marcus Liebherr

[gaz]

Brilliant thread. Touching tribute to a top man. RIP Markus, thankyou.

[Toomer]

Just a shame he is not around to see what has happened since he arrived will never forget his face at Wembley like a kid in a sweet shop.

[ericofarabia]

Brilliant thread. Touching tribute to a top man. RIP Markus, thankyou.

I still get a tear in my eye whenever I read anything about Markus. Such a tragedy he didn't get to enjoy the two promotions and on the pitch celebrations. no camera in the world would have enough memory to store how many snaps he'd have taken!!

For us who never had the pleasure of knowing the man his passing was a hard knock - imagine what Cortese went through. I wouldn'be surprised if it was him who started the WIFM campaign!!

[paulwantsapint]

SAINT MARKUS of SOUTHAMPTON
Is like Jesus he has sent from heaven to save he then returned to heaven leaving the legacy to grow

[jawillwill]

no camera in the world would have enough memory to store how many snaps he'd have taken!!

I know he was caught on TV taking photos on his camera once, but I doubt whether that is true. Good digital cameras (and I'm sure his was good considering his wealth) can hold thousands upon thousands of photos. He'd struggle to fill that up I rekon. In any case, he can't be as bad as a couple of my Facebook friends, who upload about 300 photos everytime they go on a night out. I wonder if ML did the obligatory photo of himself in a cublicle at the Wembely toilets...?

[sfc4prem]

Walking along, singing a song...

Thank you Markus, such a shame you're not here to revel in the success you and Nicola have brought to this club.

RIP.

[VectisSaint]

Thank you Markus, best birthday present ever.

[ericofarabia]

I know he was caught on TV taking photos on his camera once, but I doubt whether that is true. Good digital cameras (and I'm sure his was good considering his wealth) can hold thousands upon thousands of photos. He'd struggle to fill that up I rekon. In any case, he can't be as bad as a couple of my Facebook friends, who upload about 300 photos everytime they go on a night out. I wonder if ML did the obligatory photo of himself in a cublicle at the Wembely toilets...?

Brilliant.

[sammysaint]

ML and NC legends forever for what they have done, still believe we should name a stand after him.

[corsacar saint]

This club means so much to many people including Nicola Cortese,who has done a magnificent job,along with the playing and non playing staff. Markus knew what he was doing when he saved the club and he knew what he was doing,when he appointed Nicola Cortese to run it.We as fans are forever in your debt Markus and thank you.

[Elias]

Thanks Markus and Nicola, really revitalised the club when we were on our last legs.

[SaintBobby]

God bless him.

So sorry he hasn't seen all the good times which he has brought us.

[Lymsaint]

Was it really 3 years ago, one of those "remember where you were when" I was on holiday in France when my son text me with the news. Thanks for everything Markus.

[rooney]

We shall be ever grateful to Markus & Nicola. I remember taking my grandsons to Dean Court to see the friendly against Bournemouth just after Markus takeover was announced. There were some Swiss Flags about.

[Wes Tender]

Markus Liebherr: "We will assemble a strong management team at every level of the club. We will act rapidly, but also plan for the long term, because I am here for the long term.

So poignant that with his sad passing so soon after taking us over, he never got the see us returned to the Premiership. But he would have been proud of the way that the club has been run since his passing by his dear friend Nicola Cortese, with the help of his family. What a shame that he could not have been with us for the successive promotions, or at that first match of the Premiership season, playing the Champions.

But he will always be remembered by all Saints fans with deep gratitude for what he did for us.

[bender]

I remember that year holidaying in Cornwall with no mobile coverage. Every evening I headed up this big rural hill just to get a glimmer of coverage and see if we were going to survive. That was the week that the Pinnacle group looked set to invest but in the end didn't. At the time all I wanted was a team to support with the propect of being back in the Championship with a bit of a future.

Can't believe not only where we are but how we are still moving forward. Not only do we look like staying in the Prem but actually being a bit of a force. Just ridiculous.