Latest news with #SouthamptonFC
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Lallana will bring back Saints' identity
Adam Lallana's fine footwork has already cemented him as a Saints legend, but former team-mate Rickie Lambert says Lallana's leadership off the pitch was just as important to their announced his retirement on Wednesday but will remain with the Saints in a coaching position under new boss Will Still."When anyone asks me who's the best player I've played with, I played with this lad probably the most," Lambert told BBC Radio Solent."It was just a pleasure to play with him, to be honest. He's such a great lad off the pitch, real good character, and then on the pitch, a real leader."As a character to have around the dressing room, just as influential as on the pitch."Lallana helped Southampton to two successive promotions to see them reach the Premier League, scoring 60 times in his 283 appearances for the as for what the 37-year-old can do now he's in the backroom, Lambert believes it'll be to bring back what made Southampton so successful in their back-to-back promotion run."If you lose your identity of your history, your team, you're in trouble," Lambert added."What Southampton had going up the leagues was a core of players who believed in the Southampton way and that kind of got lost."Now Adam is one of the main coaches and he's going to make it clear if you are joining this club, you are joining because you love it. He'll make sure that each player is giving it 100%."Listen on the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Walker-Peters and Lumley to leave Saints
Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters and goalkeeper Joe Lumley will leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of the month. Walker-Peters, who has two England caps, made 202 appearances for the Saints and scored six goals during his time at St Mary's. After initially joining on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, he signed a permanent contract in played 46 league games in 2023-24 as Saints were promoted to the Premier League, and 35 last season, providing two top-flight Lumley arrived from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2023 and made eight appearances for Saints, with two clean sheets. He started all four of Southampton's FA Cup ties in 2023-24 and made his Premier League debut away at Brighton last 30-year-old has also previously played for Queens Park Rangers and Reading. Saints announced earlier on Wednesday that Adam Lallana has decided to call time on his playing career and announced his retirement. Last season he only played five time as his side were relegated to the Championship, towards the back end of the campaign he was heavily involved in the coaching set-up at the club. Walker-Peters 'grew as a person and player at Saints' - analysis by BBC Radio Solent's Southampton commentator Adam Blackmore:When Kyle initially arrived at Saints on loan in 2020, he was a shy young man who needed more first-team football to gain experience, with his opportunities at Spurs the summer he'd impressed Ralph Hasenhuttl enough to become a full-time Saint, and I can't think of many players in the ensuing five years who've performed as consistently as Kyle at a high level, or who have given better service than him.I've seen him grow as a person and a player during his time at the club, he's won an England cap, and he's become a gifted versatile full-back who can operate on either side of the defence, and loves nothing more than to drive forward into dangerous more than anything I think of how well he's carried himself through all the trials and tribulations he's witnessed and been part of at Saints, he's been a credit to himself and the I've never seen a player get kicked as much as Walker-Peters in the Championship two seasons ago as he played a crucial role in Saints' promotion.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
January signing Gronbaek already lands new club weeks after departing Saints
Albert Gronbaek started just twice for Saints since arriving on loan in January (Image: Southampton FC/Matt Watson) JANUARY Saints signing Albert Gronbaek has already signed for a new club, penning a season-long loan deal at Italian side Genoa. The 24 year old midfielder arrived at St Mary's on loan from Ligue 1 outfit Stade Rennes but made just four Premier League appearances. Advertisement Gronbaek is a Denmark international but suffered a tendon injury in March and did not play for Saints again before the end of the campaign. Saints opted against activating the option to buy Gronbaek, and he has now turned up at Genoa on a loan - who again have an option to buy him. The deal becomes an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met, meaning the former Bodo/Glimt star could have found a new permanent home. He left the Norwegian side, who were Europa League semi-finalists last season, in August 2024 but fell out with Rennes manager Jorge Sampaoli. Gronbaek was Ivan Juric's only signing at Saints, and made his debut as a starter in Southampton's 2-1 win at Ipswich Town in February. He could now come up against Juric, who has taken over as manager at Atalanta following his departure from Saints in April.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Danish international Albert Grønbæk undergoing Genoa medical
Albert Grønbæk (24) is nearing an exit from Stade Rennais, with L'Équipe reporting that he is currently undergoing his medical at Serie A side Genoa CFC. However, the French outlet explains that a full agreement between the two clubs has still not been reached. In particular, Genoa and Rennes have not reached an agreement on the clauses surrounding the €11 million purchase option attached to the loan deal. Grønbæk only arrived at Rennes last summer when he was signed for €15 million from Norwegian club Bødo/Glimt. The Danish international had a bright start, but performances dipped, and he soon began to struggle in the north of France under Julien Stéphan and Jorge Sampaoli. He was sent out on loan in the winter transfer window to Southampton FC, but injuries curtailed his involvement. Advertisement Rennes had initially been open to involving him in the squad and giving him a chance to meet with Habib Beye (who arrived as the head coach after he had left for the Premier League side), however, Grønbæk reportedly wanted a fresh start away from Les Rouge et Noirs. GFFN | Nick Hartland
