HE is known for his genius on the football pitch but he has proven quite the brainbox off it.

Saints legend Matt Le Tissier often wowed the crowds with his tricks, turns and spectacular goals.

Now he is showing off his intellect after winning back-to-back matches on Channel 4’s Countdown.

The midfielder, who scored more than 200 goals for Saints between 1986 and 2002, thrashed second year Cardiff student Georgie Metters 102-34.

And he even managed to get his sport onto the show when he scored seven points in a letters challenge with ‘nutmegs’.

He proved his word skills by picking out capon, a specially prepared chicken, and even picked out the highest score possible in one round with the seven-letter ‘avenges’.

His ability with numbers was also top-notch, twice hitting the target and coming very close on the other occasions.

But there was the odd mistake – particularly when he attempted a seven-point score with ‘wormier’ without having the right letters.

Daily Echo:

Matt is well-known for his banter on his regular TV show Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports.

And he enjoyed some good banter with host Nick Hewer, including when he picked out ‘tartier’ from a jumble which led the host to say: “My pie is tartier than yours.”

“That’s not what I was thinking off,” quipped the ex-England international in reply.

He was not the only footballer on show as ex-Saint Graeme Le Saux was in Dictionary Corner.

And he saved some special praise for Matt when picking out ‘tiptoes’ as a highest score.

Graeme said: “Every time I looked at Matt on the football pitch I would often see him prance and dance through the defence so you could say he tiptoed into the penalty area to score a goal.”

It was Matt’s second consecutive score of 100-plus after winning with 105 points on Wednesday.

Co-host Rachel Riley was also impressed, particularly when Matt solved the Countdown Conundrum to reveal ‘crusading’.

She said: “It’s a great conundrum. It reminds me of When the Saints Go Marching In.

“Matt is very good. He scored another century so he is in the wrong sport; he should have been in cricket.”

Meanwhile on social media the world was surprised to see Matt showcase a different set of abilities but equally as impressed.