Premier League and Champions League-winning veteran Adam Lallana was spotted training with England’s U21s during the international break – but things were not as they seemed.
Adam Lallana has bizarrely been spotted training with England’s U21s squad.
The U21s, managed by Lee Carsley, are currently gearing up for their friendlies against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg. It comes as preparation ahead of their U21s Euro 2025 tournament.
A clip shared on social media this week showed midfield veteran Lallana, 35, making his way onto the training pitch at St George’s Park. But the Brighton man was not training with the senior team, instead coming out at the same time as England’s youngsters.
His kit meant he initially appeared to be just another U21s player, which confused fans online due to his age, having made 34 appearances for the senior team between 2013 and 2018. But it soon became clear that Lallana is in fact spending time with the U21s in a coaching capacity.
The former Liverpool star hopes that mentoring England’s next crop of players will allow him to hone his own coaching skills. Lallana turns 36 in May and is out of contract at the Amex at the end of the season, suggesting his playing career is in its twilight.
He is understood to be in the process of studying for his coaching badges, having also spent the previous international breaks learning from Carsley.
Speaking about his experience with England after his first camp with the squad in September, Lallana said: “It was an amazing insight for me into what may lie in the future, I was delighted with the opportunity and thankful to Brighton and Roberto [De Zerbi] for not just being happy for me to go, but excited that I got the opportunity.
“I was involved in training and took a few little bits, just being that bridge between the coaches and the players. I am still playing in the Premier League so I will still experience the same things as those boys – frustrations, losing and winning as a player.
“When you’re young you want everything now, you can be impatient, so I can help in those areas, while also getting an opportunity to see the blueprint of being a successful coach.”
