One hundred and 76 seconds – that’s how long it took to make Saints striker Sadio Mane one of the world’s most talked about footballers.

The striker re-wrote the history books by firing the fastest ever Premier League hat-trick in front of more than 31,000 fans at St Mary’s.

His treble helped Saints to 6-1 win over Aston Villa, which assured them of at least seventh place in the league and boosts their hopes of a place in Europe next season.

Minutes after scoring his goals the player was a hit across the Internet and social media websites.

When Mane, now 23, was growing up in Senegal he skipped school to play football with his mates rather than attend class.

At the age of 15 he enrolled at a youth academy in the capital Dakar, before he made his professional debut at the age of 20 with French club Metz.

Daily Echo: Mane nets his second

He helped Senegal reach the quarter finals of the 2012 Olympics before signing for Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg where he scored 45 goals in 87 games.

That attracted him to Saints manager Ronald Koeman, who signed him in September in a £10 million deal.

Speaking after the game the Senegalese international said: “In Senegal they will be happy for me. I have many fans there.

“We have tried our best in training, to work hard, and finally we got the reward. “It’s important to score for the team, so I’m happy, the team win, for the fans and I think they will be happy today.”

He began his series of strikes in the 13th minute and two minutes and 56 seconds later had helped to secure Ronald Koeman’s side a scintillating victory in their last home game of the season.

The time of his goals were:

  • Strike one in 12 mins 20 secs
  • Strike two in 13 mins 44 secs
  • Strike three in 15 mins 16 secs

His record smashes that previously held by Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler who netted three goals for Liverpool in four minutes and 33 seconds in a 1994 Premier League game against Arsenal.

It also led to a flood of comments on the Daily Echo website and on Twitter.

MrHMSH said: “A great way to sign off at home, and so much better than we’ve seen in recent weeks. Europe is not guaranteed, but we can make it! Well done Koeman and team!”

David Crook said: “Saw Saints on TV; they were outstanding.

If they play like that next week against Man City they will win.”

Daily Echo: Sadio Mane seals his hat trick

Mane’s goal-scoring record saw praise heaped upon him from his Dutch manager, who was thrilled with his performance.

He said: “Today he demonstrated what we expect from Sadio.

“He’s a great player, a great run player in front.

“We know for some players it’s the first season in the Premier League but you have to learn and still he’s a young player and he can do much better than he did. I believe that.”

Factfile: Saints’ hat-trick hero Sadio Mane 

• Sadio Mane loved football so much as a child growing up in the town of Sedhiou in southern Senegal he skipped class to play.

• He moved to a youth academy in the capital Dakar, aged 15.

• It was his big break, leading to him being picked up by French club Metz, from where he joined Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg, l He helped them win last season’s Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup before he transferred to Saints last summer for £10m.

• He scored in Saints’ 8-0 victory over Sunderland in October, but it was subsequently credited as a Patrick van Aanholt own goal.

• He scored his first goal in his next game, a 1-0 win over Stoke City a week later.

• Mane was dropped from Southampton’s line-up for their home defeat to Liverpool in February as punishment for being late.

• He was part of the Senegal team at the 2012 Olympics, starting every match as they reached the quarter finals.