Former Southampton star Matt Le Tissier will swap Soccer Saturday for Countdown to become the fourth professional footballer to appear on the Channel 4 show . Le Tissier , 46 , announced on Twitter he has passed his contestant audition and will be filming this autumn . The eight-cap England international has previously appeared as the show 's 'Dictionary Corner ' guest in 2009 , memorably solving a numbers round puzzle which had foxed both contestants - including an eventual series semi-finalist - and resident maths expert Rachel Riley . Matt Le Tissier previously appeared on Countdown as a 'Dictionary Corner ' guest in 2009 . Ryan Giggs ( left ) appeared on the show in 2013 to present Rachel Riley with a signed Manchester United shirt . Clarke Carlisle became the first Premier League player to appear on the Channel 4 game show in 2010 . 'Hope you 've brushed up on the numbers , ' Le Tissier joked to the Oxford graduate as he announced his upcoming appearance . He faces stiff competition for bragging rights from his fellow ex-pros who hold seven victories between them - former Norwich man Adrian Coote failed to secure the Countdown teapot but Clarke Carlisle won two games and Neil MacKenzie won five en route to a series quarter-final berth . Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling was a host of the show before Nick Hewer took the reins , as was former BBC and ITV anchor Des Lynam . Jun 30 , 2008 : Neil MacKenzie ( Notts County ) - Won - Score of 71 . Jul 1 , 2008 : Neil MacKenzie - Won - 104 . Jul 2 , 2008 : Neil MacKenzie - Won - 72 . Jul 3 , 2008 : Neil MacKenzie - Won - 104 . Jul 4 , 2008 : Neil MacKenzie - Won - 63 . Jul 7 , 2008 : Neil MacKenzie - Lost - 66 . Dec 8 , 2008 : Neil MacKenzie - Lost - 57 . Dec 1 , 2009 : Adrian Coote ( Norwich City ) - Lost - 62 . Feb 24 , 2010 : Clarke Carlisle ( Burnley ) - Won - 89 . Feb 25 , 2010 : Clarke Carlisle ( Burnley ) - Won - 101 . Feb 26 , 2010 : Clarke Carlisle ( Burnley ) - Lost - 86 . Le Tissier ( right ) also appeared on a celebrity edition of the ITV hit quiz show The Chase in October 2013 . Le Tissier will appear on the show with Riley ( right ) , host Nick Hewer ( centre ) and Susie Dent .
step Le Tissier will appear on Countdown after passing his audition . The former Southampton star guest appeared for the channel 4 show this autumn . mark Tissier previously appeared on C4 news as a ' Dictionary star ' guest .