Adam Lallana opens up on Southampton return 10 years on

It is a move that feels a long time coming for the 36 year old, who is a different man and different player to the one that departed in 2014.

When he left, Lallana was club captain, a PFA Player of the Season nominee and primed to be named England Player of the Year just two years later.

In his last two seasons with Brighton, Lallana played under a third of the Premier League minutes he did for Southampton in 2013/14. 

He still knows he has something to give manager Russell Martin though, who has brought him back home four years after Lallana's first attempt.

"When I left Liverpool in 2020, I wanted to come back," Lallana told the Daily Echo, out in Spain for the club's pre-season camp.

Adam Lallana and former Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino (Image: PA)

"I was speaking to Martin Semmens, I was speaking to Kelvin Davis - but I'm not sure the manager (Ralph Hasenhuttl) wanted to do it, which is fair enough.

"I totally get it. I'm convinced I would have helped him, I would have helped. I feel like that's what I've done wherever I've been my whole career.

"I've built great relationships with every manager I've had and helped them and helped the team, but I went on and had an amazing time at Brighton."

When Lallana learned he was leaving Amex Stadium this summer - a decision which hinged on the future of Roberto De Zerbi - retirement was an option.

He has been doing his coaching badges alongside playing and has gained experience on the training pitch with Brighton and England's under-21s.

He has stepped away from that to focus on playing this season - keeping his body as ready as possible to make a big contribution. 

Adam Lallana on England duty, working with under-21s boss Lee Carsley (Image: PA)

Lallana's son, Arthur - who was pictured on his dad's shoulders at St Mary's in May 2014 - is in the academy at Staplewood. Moving across the country was ruled out.

"I was never going to go anywhere else apart from back home. It was either stay at Brighton, come back to Southampton or probably retire," he said.

"Roberto wanted me to stay. I couldn't have done another year away from my family in the hybrid role because my son, the age he's at, they were struggling.

"My family were all going to come up to Brighton with me. I had a meeting with Andy Goldie, the Saints academy manager, just to give him the heads up.

"If I re-sign at Brighton, I'll have to take Arthur out of the academy. For four years, they have been in Bournemouth and I was in Brighton and coming back as and when.

"I told Brighton I wanted to carry on playing but heard nothing. There was loads of speculation about the manager so everything was in the air."

Lallana continued: "Andy, who knows Russell well, asked me if would consider coming back. The minute I spoke to Russell, we spoke the same language. 

Adam Lallana and Jack Stephens have just arrived with their individual physios. Entertaining small-pitch game going on.

“Remember the day that Kyle Walker-Peters was tackled,” Russell Martin is shouting as the defender loses the ball.#SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/wIbyqsUhHy

— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) July 23, 2024

"He wanted me back in any capacity. He mentioned as a player or as a coach. I still feel I can contribute on the grass, maybe not 38 games a season, not every minute.

"As soon as that was it, I knew then. Even if there would have been an offer from Brighton, I was coming back. I was too excited, I was too stimulated.

"Being my age, the player I am, having a manager that will look after you differently is lucky. That doesn't always happen. So I feel really lucky."

Lallana's last game at St Mary's was a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on May 11, 2014. His next could be Nottingham Forest, on August 24.

Adam Lallana donning Saints gear for the first time in 10 years (Image: Stuart Martin)

"Of course, it will feel special to me, being back at the club," Lallana insisted.

"Just because I went to play for a different football club, it doesn't mean I don't love the football club. I owe the football club a lot - I was here for 14 years.

"That never changed. The captain, the homeboy, leaving at 24 or 25 years old - the fans are not meant to clap that. I don't begrudge that.

"I am extremely excited and grateful to be here. The lads are such good lads. The dynamic that Russell's got with the group is how I'd want to see myself as a coach.

"Still getting involved with playing a bit but if the behaviour or punctuality is not there, we're running. That's how you create a philosophy." 

Lallana - desperate to deliver for the club - was minutes away from stepping out in Southampton's red and white in front of 5,000 local fans on Friday.

Martin had started the 34-cap England international against National League Eastleigh in the first friendly of pre-season, which Saints won 7-1. 

However, in the final stages of the warm-up, Lallana disappeared down the tunnel and youngster Tyler Dibling stepped into his place.

"It was a blow, but I'm fine," Lallana insisted. "I'll be back training in a couple of days."

"Just because I've played for Liverpool and England, it doesn't mean that there isn't any anxiety about me coming back home and performing.

"I still have high expectations of myself. I still want to be able to perform at the level, which I know I can because I've trained for three weeks and I know I can.

"I'm no different, I'm human. Coming back is a different pressure, I'm not the same player that I was 10 years ago. I hope that people accept that.

"The most important person is Russell and he accepts that. But there are still, of course, there are doubts that there always are in life. Everyone has them."