Southampton Appoint Former Liverpool Star as Assistant Manager | OneFootball

Lallana Appointed Assistant Manager at Southampton as Saints Begin Rebuild

Amid a season that has unravelled with brutal clarity for Southampton, a familiar face has been handed a key role in the club’s attempted reset. Adam Lallana, the former Liverpool and England midfielder, has been named Assistant Manager at Southampton, working alongside interim boss Simon Rusk.

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The announcement, confirmed on Monday following the dismissal of Ivan Juric, marks a significant step in Lallana’s post-playing career. At a time when Southampton’s Premier League return has descended into damage limitation, the hope is that a figure of Lallana’s experience can help guide the club through a turbulent period — both on and off the pitch.

Lallana Steps In as Saints Suffer Season to Forget

Southampton’s struggles this season have been well documented. Having won promotion via the play-offs last term, optimism quickly gave way to reality. After Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham, Saints’ relegation was mathematically confirmed, with just 10 points to their name and seven fixtures still remaining.

Juric’s tenure, which began in December, never truly took flight, and the decision to part ways with the Croatian was largely expected. In his place comes Rusk, with Lallana installed as Assistant Manager, just months after returning to his boyhood club on a one-year deal from Brighton.

“Lallana is a respected figure in the dressing room and has already shown a clear appetite for coaching,” a club source told Sky Sports. “The belief is that he can help steady things short term while gaining valuable experience.”

Coaching Future Already Taking Shape

The 36-year-old has made 18 appearances this season but has been hampered by injuries, as has been the case throughout much of his later career. Given he turns 37 in May, questions around his long-term playing future have been mounting.

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However, coaching has always seemed a natural next step. Lallana has previously been spotted working with England’s youth sides and is understood to hold strong relationships within both coaching and player development circles.

Southampton’s short-term aim is to restore some pride and avoid finishing with the lowest points tally in Premier League history. Whether Lallana will stay at St Mary’s next season in a full-time backroom role remains unclear — but his presence in the dugout over the next seven games will offer a glimpse of what might come next.

Final Weeks Could Shape Lallana’s Next Chapter

If Southampton can finish with a flourish, it may well encourage both Rusk and Lallana to stay on in some capacity. For Lallana, the timing is interesting. His return to the south coast club came full circle after a distinguished spell at Liverpool, where he lifted the Premier League and Champions League under Jürgen Klopp.

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Now, as Southampton prepare for life in the Championship, the next chapter in Lallana’s football journey may begin not on the pitch, but from the technical area.