James Ward-Prowse is a beloved figure among team-mates because of his approach to his role in Southampton captain.
It was during the summer transfer window that James Ward-Prowse looked like he might be the latest Southampton academy graduate to leave the club in big-money moves.
After an impressive season that saw him reach the brink of England’s Euros squad, he was cut from the final 26. According to reports, the 26-year old was a transfer target for Tottenham and Aston Villa.
Saints fans can be forgiven for being afraid of the worst. They are all too familiar with the pain of losing star players.
Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, and Alan Shearer are just a few of the names that have proven promising on the south coast.
Ward-Prowse decided to go against the grain and not follow the well-worn path. Ward-Prowse could be extended his time with the club by signing a new five year contract.
After winning over both the manager and fans, he will take Saints to Manchester City on Saturday. He's on track to be a club legend, which is not bad for a Portsmouth supporter.
Six-year-old free-kick specialist
Ward-Prowse has more Premier League free kicks than any other Englishman
Ward-Prowse was raised in Portsmouth, one of Southampton's most fierce south coast rivals. He showed promise at six years old when he signed for East Lodge FC. This was largely due to his ability to grab a corner.
"He was constantly crossing during practice, so I told him that there was more to it, but he's done alright. Dave Hill, East Lodge's coach and chairman, jokes.
Ward-Prowse was a fan of David Beckham back then. Perhaps it is not surprising that Ward-Prowse has made free-kick expertise a hallmark his game. Ralph Hasenhuttl, Saints manager, recently stated that Ward-Prowse was one of the best set-piece takers in the world.
Statistics support this opinion.
He is second in Premier League history behind Sebastian Larsson's 11 goals from free kicks with 10 goals. Since Opta started recording this data in 2003-04, he has had the highest conversion rate of any Premier League player who has taken more than 50 free-kicks.
Jason Dodd, who was Ward-Prowse's coach at the Southampton academy, said, "When it came down to staying on after practicing his delivery, it got so far that we had to practically drag him off."
Is he a one-club man?
Ward-Prowse's summer contract raises the possibility that he might end his career as a one-club player.
Dodd has been playing for Southampton for 16 year and knows what it takes for a player to keep a job in the top flight. He describes Ward-Prowse coaching as a joy. Dodd adds, "Even at 14 he had an older head on young shoulders." "He was not afraid to ask for help in improving his skills."
Since Ward-Prowse's debut against Crystal Palace at 16, a decade has passed. The club was already halfway through back to back promotions into the Premier League.
Dean Hammond was the captain of that Saints team, and he still remembers the youngster who stood out on the field.
Hammond says, "He had quality, but he listened too." "The academy boys were like that: Luke Shaw, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, and James. They were good lads but had this confidence and wanted to prove themselves."
Shaw and Oxlade Chamberlain are just two examples of Southampton players who were lured away from "bigger" clubs. Ward-Prowse has stayed, but it was not always easy.
Some Southampton fans wondered if Hasenhuttl was worthy of a spot in the starting XI before he became manager in 2018. This suggested that he wasn’t physically strong enough or had the right influence on the games. Hasenhuttl wanted Ward-Prowse to be more aggressive - and he got it.
Kelvin Davis, a former teammate and now Saints coach, says James "has always been his harshest critic." "Even before he was able to make a name for himself in the first team, James would always analyse his game and work on improving it in order to push on."
He became the first player to play every minute in consecutive Premier League seasons in May. He spoke out about his gratitude to the club for their faith after signing his new contract.
Hill recalled that East Lodge was a source of this mentality and the desire to improve. James was not like that. He wasn't afraid of anything."
It shouldn't surprise that he's happy to remain at St Mary's, as loyalty is something many have recognized in him.
This is a tradition that dates back to East Lodge. He donated to the renovation of their clubhouse in 2019, and returned for its opening. One of the walls features a mural depicting Ward-Prowse in a white England shirt. Hill says, "We couldn’t have painted James using a Southampton kit – we don’t want the place to burn down."
Leadership emerges
Ralph Hasenhuttl was particularly impressed by Ward-Prowse’s behavior off the pitch.
While the 2020 New Year's Day victory over Spurs is most notable for Danny Ings' goal, fans also noted Ward-Prowse's tackle that knocked Tottenham's Moussa sisoko off his feet. He replaced Pierre-Emile Hojibjerg as Saints captain before the season ended.
This was yet another opportunity to clear any doubts Hasenhuttl may still have. The Austrian loves the way his new leader speaks to players and not just criticize them. This extends beyond matches. Ward-Prowse ensures that he is seated with different players during meal times, and not with the same group. This behavior is appreciated by his manager, who believes it cements respect among team-mates.
He will be able to overcome the disappointment that Gareth Southgate caused him to leave the Euros squad.
Davis adds, "He believes in himself and knows there are always obstacles to overcome in football." He is now fully focused on the Premier League season ahead, and feels that the summer is over. He will keep pushing on, I'm sure."
Hammond concurs: "He's still learning as a Southampton player and achieving by playing in England. He and the club will benefit from the new contract.
Ward-Prowse's life was all about loyalty and dedication. These are qualities that Southampton will need to keep their place in the Premier League.
