Southampton's famous flop Ali Dia hits back 20 years after being branded the Premier League's worst-ever player… saying he trained with Souness for two weeks and 'earned his spot' in team

Daily Mail | November 23, 2016

He has become the stuff of legend, but Ali Dia has finally broken his silence, 20 years after the game that made him famous.

Dia came off the bench for Southampton against Leeds in 1996, and lasted just 53 minutes before being subbed again.

Stories came out that he had duped the club into signing him, claiming to be George Weah's cousin, and he was never seen in professional football again.

It's 20 years since Ali Dia made his fabled appearance for Southampton against Leeds

Dia came on for Matt Le Tissier in the 32nd minute and was wearing the No 33 shirt

Dia says he had been training with Southampton for two weeks before playing his first gameu00a0 — Dia says he had been training with Southampton for two weeks before playing his first game

But two decades on Dia, now a businessman working in London, insists he was a capable footballer who impressed on trial at the club, and earned his spot in the first team.