Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino insists he'd love to win the FA Cup.

Pellegrino was a wide-eyed nine-year-old watching in awe back home as Tottenham hero Villa scored his famous Wembley winner against ­Manchester City in the 1981 final.

Former Liverpool defender Pellegrino, 46, whose Saints side take on Watford today, said: “When I was in Argentina, I remember the slogan, 'the oldest competition in the world'.

“Players like Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa have references in my childhood and obviously I remember some goals in this competition — in the final.

“I know Villa personally as a friend of mine is a friend of his. I respect him. He was really kind with me when I met him.

“He was a top player who played in World Cups and was a big player for big clubs. I admire him as a person and as a player.

“Every year he gets invited to Tottenham and hopefully in 20 years' time people in Southampton can invite me and send me a couple of tickets."