Adam Lallana returned to teaching at Southampton this year and is expected to succeed Tonda Eckert as U21s manager.
Southampton are “finalising” Adam Lallana’s hiring as head coach of the U21s, according to Johannes Spors.
Southampton underwent change following relegation to the Championship, although much of it has already been reversed. Will Still was chosen the new first-team coach, while Tonda Eckert took over as U21s manager.
When Still was stripped of his duties after only 13 league games, Eckert took up the senior post on an interim basis. His excellent work has since earned him a permanent appointment, leaving the U21s position unfilled.
Adam Lallana, a former great player and recent coaching addition, has taken on the duty as a caretaker. Speaking to the Daily Echo, sporting director Johannes Spors has revealed that the 37-year-old will take up the role permanently.
“We’re now completing that. “It’s not finished yet, but this will last until the end of the season,” the Southampton manager stated of Lallana’s upcoming appointment.
Adam Lallana comes full circle at Southampton
After joining Southampton at the age of 12, Lallana went on to have a long and successful career. He is well-known in Saints history for his involvement in the club’s journey from League One to the Premier League, and he would later become a crucial player for Liverpool as well.
Lallana, a 34-time England international, may have reached even greater levels at Anfield if he hadn’t been injured. Nonetheless, he was a popular character there and had a significant impact at Brighton & Hove Albion, where he began his coaching career.
This transformation continued when he returned to St. Mary’s last year, where he continued to strengthen his coaching skills while finishing up a successful playing career. His return to the Saints’ U21 squad is a full circle event.
Lallana will be happy to share the knowledge and experience he gained while attending the same academy. His recent experience coaching the first squad should only help him in this regard.
Adam Lallana’s Southampton statistics
Games Goals Assists 283 60 47
Southampton coaching progression provides encouragement.
Southampton has long been a club that believes in its own systems. This may have changed under Sport Republic in recent years, since major players like Martin Semmens and Jason Wilcox have left the club.
However, appointing Eckert to first-team manager and entrusting Lallana with the U21s post indicates a return to trusting their internal assets.
It is believed that this would help the club return to its prior heights in the long run. There is still more work to be done before this goal can be realized, but these are encouraging signals.
Following Sports’ discovery, keep an eye out for official communication regarding Lallana’s hiring.
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