Adam Lallana wants to follow in Klopp's footsteps

Adam David Lallana was one of Jurgen Klopp‘s first choice for his first Liverpool starting eleven. On 17th October 2015, the Englishman played on the left flank in midfield with Philippe Coutinho and James Milner. During the German's first two seasons at Anfield, the versatile midfielder was his sixth player with the most minutes with more than 5,600.

Only Emre Can, James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Simon Mignolet and firstly Nathaniel Clyne played more than Lallana in that alpha-based team. A willing, hard-working and willing to do anything. He played on the left, on the right, as a playmaker or as a deep-lying midfielder in Liverpool's schemes. The arrivals of Salah, Mane and superior talent overshadowed the Englishman, who was still willingly a substitute for three more seasons.

Almost a decade after the German's debut, the two men's careers came very close to ending at the same time. Klopp left Liverpool and subsequently announced he would not return to coaching. Adam Lallana, who after leaving Liverpool in 2020 played four more seasons at Brighton, was finishing his contract and looking towards retirement. However, his body asked him for one more year and he decided to return home to Southampton.

Lallana came through the Saints youth system and made 261 first-team appearances before joining Liverpool in 2014. There he has his family, with whom he longed to spend more time, and he still felt it was not the right time to retire. However, at home he finds the best possible place to continue training for his future. The Englishman wants to be a coach.

This is not something new for him. Following Graham Potter's departure from Brighton, Adam Lallana acted as an assistant while he was still playing and played an important role in this capacity under Roberto De Zerbi. He has also recently been a member of the England Under-21 coaching staff as a mentor to the country's promising youngsters.

Klopp, Pochettino, Roy Hodgson, Brendan Rodgers, Sam Allardyce and the aforementioned Potter and Southgate are some of the coaches Lallana has had throughout his professional career. Now, playing at home (246 minutes in seven games), he can also focus on his development as a coach. He has had no shortage of quality mentors and has the experience and contacts. Don't be surprised to see him on a Premier League bench in a few years' time.

 

October 29, 2024