
Adam Lallana retires after illustrious playing career
Adam Lallana has called time on his 19-year long career.
The former Liverpool, Southampton and Brighton midfielder announced on Instagram this Wednesday that he was hanging up his boots this summer.
Although injuries took their toll across stages of his career, the 37-year-old still managed to accrue just under 600 appearances in the game and became a vital cog in Jurgen Klopp's early Liverpool side.
Lallana made 178 appearances for the Reds, lifting the Champions League in 2019 in addition to the 2019/20 Premier League title.
He said: "As I call time on my playing career, I do so with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride."
"I could not be more appreciative of the opportunities I've been given and the support I've received along the way.
"You owe so much to so many on a journey like this — it's impossible to name everyone, but to all those please know how grateful I am. I couldn't have done it without you.
"It's crazy to think this all began in the last millennium, when I signed for the academy in 1999. Since making my professional debut in 2006, I realise I've been blessed to live the dream that millions of people share."
"Southampton… the place where it all started, and fittingly where it ends. It's the club I ultimately owe everything to."
Not one to sit still, Lallana has landed an immediate gig at his previous employers Southampton as a coach under new boss Will Still.
He has a limited amount of coaching experience already, having taken up a player-coach role at the Saints under interim manager Simon Rusk after Ivan Juric got sacked in April.

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