Franny Benali

Southampton

⚽️ Ex @SouthamptonFC footballer. 🎤 Now Inspirational Speaker & 🎧 Football Pundit. Instagram: @frannybenali Bookings: [email protected]

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Articles

Benali on Juric's exit, Lallana's interim role and the next Saints boss

1 week ago | dailyecho.co.uk | Franny Benali

Saints legend Franny Benali would like the club to employ someone with experience of winning promotion as Ivan Juric's replacement (Image: Stuart Martin) IF someone told me that Saints would have dismissed as many managers as they have won Premier League games by this stage of the season, I would have laughed. I cannot say I am surprised that Ivan Juric has left the club. Speaking as a fan, there is no way you can dress up the results we got during his brief and unsuccessful reign.
Benali: 'It would be great to build confidence ahead of the Championship season'

2 weeks ago | dailyecho.co.uk | Franny Benali

Saints earned their first Premier League point in over two months in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace (Image: Stuart Martin) IT'S been a busy one for me since writing my last column. Last Saturday night, I had a great evening with my former teammates and friends. Matt Le Tissier, James Beattie and I got together, and it was lovely to see so many Saints fans at Central Hall. We had a fantastic night together.
Benali: 'I don’t think we’ve seen enough of that this season'

3 weeks ago | dailyecho.co.uk | Franny Benali

Franny Benali speaks honestly as he demands more from the Saints players this season (Image: Stuart Martin) I AM still just getting my head around where we are in the season and the fact that everyone's pretty much resigned to relegation. Just looking at the broader picture a little bit, I know there's probably been plenty of conversations about how players have performed up to this point.
Benali: 'Anything less than victory against Portsmouth is not enough'

1 month ago | dailyecho.co.uk | Franny Benali

Childhood Saints fan Meg Collett scored against Portsmouth on Sunday (Image: Southampton FC/Chris Moorhouse) IT is always a huge occasion when Saints play Portsmouth. Whether it’s the men’s team, women’s team or the youth teams, these games mean so much. This is the game you want to win - and have to win - more than any other in the season. Anything less than victory against Pompey is not enough.
Benali: 'Today's game is going to be a massive one, no doubt about it'

1 month ago | dailyecho.co.uk | Franny Benali

Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has been called up to the England squad for the first time since EURO 2024 - having missed the November camp through injury (Image: PA) TODAY's game is going to be a massive one, no doubt about it. We clearly need to get a win on the board again, and this is a big opportunity to do just that.
Benali: 'Juric said Saints must be perfect at Liverpool but we haven't seen that yet'

1 month ago | dailyecho.co.uk | Franny Benali

I WAS on co-commentary for BBC 5 Live when Liverpool suffered a shock defeat to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup last month. Arne Slot rotated his side at Home Park and you would expect him to do the same against Southampton this afternoon. Their meeting with us is sandwiched between a Champions League round of 16 tie with French champions PSG, and they only have a 1-0 lead heading into the second game.
Benali: 'Clearly not all, but I feel there's some players that could be doing more'

1 month ago | dailyecho.co.uk | Franny Benali

FOOTBALL is different now, isn't it? I'm not saying the guys aren't trying, but we've seen in the past it felt like a life-and-death scenario. You've literally given everything to avoid defeat and are putting everything on the line at every given opportunity, knowing the position you're in. We have been facing relegation many times in the past. To me, it feels different now. One of the words I'm looking for is urgency.
Benali: 'I will never forget a trip to Brighton in September 2001'

2 months ago | dailyecho.co.uk | Franny Benali

Saints Brighton celebrating Svenssons second goal (Image: Echo) SEVERAL games from my playing career stick out for reasons beyond football and a trip to Brighton on September 11, 2001, is one of the more prominent memories. Although I was on the bench for that 3-0 League Cup victory at the Withdean Stadium, being amid the backdrop of the 9/11 attacks made it a game I will never forget. Everyone remembers where they were when the attacks took place.
Benali 'thoroughly impressed' in early assessment of Welington

2 months ago | dailyecho.co.uk | Franny Benali

Southampton's Welington played at centre-back against Burnley. (Image: Stuart Martin) As a former left-back myself, I must admit that I am often more critical of those who play in that position for Saints today. Despite that, I have been thoroughly impressed with Welington's early performances. Like most, I knew little about him until his debut at Ipswich Town. I tuned into that game via a link while away. As far as maiden appearances go, the Brazilian's was right up there for me.
Benali: I remember a time when Dave Merrington made us run to The Dell from Eastleigh

2 months ago | dailyecho.co.uk | Franny Benali

Benali: I remember a time when Dave Merrington made us run to The Dell from Eastleigh I CAN remember a time in my youth team days when Dave Merrington made us run all the way back to The Dell from the training ground in Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh. We were all waiting in the minibus at the training ground ready to head to the stadium, a journey we made every day. We were all piled in the bus, amongst the kit required for training and squeezed up alongside our youth teammates.