Lallana retires after 'shining career'
What can I say about Adam? Having worked with him at the start of his career for eight years and at the very end of his playing career, I know one thing for sure - he worked hard to make the most of every bit of ability he had and I think he's the most laser-focussed, determined player I know.His languid, silky playing style belied how seriously he took himself, his career and the game. We expect his sort of drive from big vocal captain-style centre-halves, but not necessarily from a winger who skips past players and looks will o' the wisp.That inbuilt drive and determination to do well may have come from being slight as a youngster and having to take a few whacks, it may have come from dealing with and overcoming a heart condition and ulcerative colitis. But whatever the cocktail was, boy did it work.He was good as a youngster breaking into Southampton's first-team and everyone knew he had talent. But he really started to shine after the club's worst period in 2009 when they went into administration, and he, as much as any player, was responsible on the pitch for Saints' renaissance and back-to-back promotions that returned them to the Premier League in 2012.But he really hit a new level after the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentinian gave him confidence, belief, and, through tougher physical training, an extra two yards of pace. Adam used that to terrific effect, for two years Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez were a terrific trio up front for Saints, and scored 61 Premier League goals between them.And of course those performances led to international recognition (for all of them) and the attention of big clubs. Liverpool eventually took Lallana to Anfield for £25m in 2014 as the Saints player exodus happened. It was no surprise to any of us that he dealt with the big move with ease, and even less of a surprise that Jurgen Klopp would go on to praise him for his attitude and ability, with Lallana loving the intense style of play Klopp demanded.After six years at Anfield, a Premier League medal, a Champions League medal and the accolade of being England player of the year in 2016, he then took on a senior leadership role in the Brighton dressing room and worked alongside the likes of Danny Welbeck, Lewis Dunk, and James Milner to set the dressing room culture for Brighton's ensuing success.Adam will be gutted his career was affected by niggling injuries in the past few years, and he'll have hated ending his playing career with Southampton's woeful last season. But he now has a chance to grow and flourish as a coach at Saints and if he puts as much thought, knowledge and determination into coaching as he did as a player, I think we all know he's going to turn out pretty good.
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