SOUTHAMPTON'S footballing legend Matt Le Tissier will next month be awarded the Freedom of The City in a prestigious ceremony before thousands of Saints fans.

The striker, nicknamed Le God, will make another appearance on the pitch at St Mary's stadium when he is officially handed the honour before Saints take on Birmingham City on December 7.

Members of the city council unanimously voted for the club's most popular player to be given the honour at a meeting of full council.

The campaign to grant the 34-year-old the highest available civic honour was launched this summer.

He is likely to be presented with a scroll on the pitch before the match by Southampton Mayor, Councillor Brian Parnell.

A Daily Echo phone poll revealed huge support for "Le God" to receive the honour. A massive 89 per cent of readers gave it the thumbs up.

The legend retired from the professional game at the end of last season after scoring 209 goals in 462 games. He has recently made his debut for non-league side Eastleigh.

Members of the council unanimously agreed to give Saints' most famous player the honour during a full council meeting.

The motion was put forward by Councillor Peter Baillie, who spearheaded the original campaign to give the player the civic award.

Cllr Baillie said it was a "privilege" to put forward the proposal. He said: "He was a player with sublime skill. Not only skill but a player with extreme dedication and loyalty to a club in the lower reaches of the Premiership. Year after year, he saved them from relegation."

Councillor Perry McMillan joked that the city should give him the honour quickly as he was now playing for Eastleigh.

He said: "Matt Le Tissier has put Southampton on the map with his skills playing for Saints and for England."

Councillor Peter Wakeford said: "He is a very nice individual who has done a lot of work within the community and we need to recognise that."