Tony Adams is one of three Arsenal players to be commemorated with a statue outside the Emirates stadium, he spent such a long time at the club and reaped huge successes that he became the only player to have captained a team to a Premier League title in three different decades.
Saying that the club icon went on to have a fractious relationship with his beloved side following retirement – one thing is for sure, Tony Adams and Arsenal have a colourful past.
Signing for the club as a schoolboy at the beginning of the 80’s, Adams made his Gunners debut at the tender age of 17, the Romford born centre half made his way into the first team 5 years later. Indeed, it would be a 20 year old Adams that claimed the First Division title in 87 after a thrilling last game finale against Liverpool.
Together with Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn and Steve Bould, He was at the heart of a formidable Arsenal back-four under manager George Graham. Known for their outstanding ability to draw attackers into offside positions, perhaps his most impressive legacy was the ‘boring boring Arsenal’ label thrown at the club by frustrated opposition support due to his dominance in marshalling a backline.
As Graham’s career ended in controversial fashion, Adams was expected to be cast aside along with the rest of the old guard when a certain Arsene Wenger showed up at Highbury in the Summer of 96.
Alas, it wasn’t to be, not wishing to change something that wasn’t broke, the Frenchman complimented his incredibly sturdy defence with outrageously talented attacking imports – the new Arsenal was born, Adams very much still the beating heart. Of course, the defender’s ability to change wasn’t just impressive in his career.
Whilst you can bet fellow professional’s such as Paul Merson would have been busy acting out their addictions on any sports betting sites in the USA if they indeed they existed at the time, perhaps in keeping with the life of a footballer at the time, Adams shared something in common with many of his fellow professionals during the 80’s – he loved a drink.
Most have Arsenal’s team bonding was revolved around various pubs around London. Whilst the average salary for a footballer wouldn’t even match , Adams and co had plenty of liquid income, as it were, to thrown down the boozer.
Things came to a head on May 6th 1990. After drinking four times the legal amount, the club captain got behind the wheel of his Ford Sierra and crashed into a wall in Rayleigh. Naturally, the tabloids had a field day with young Adams.
After swiftly being dealt a four-month stay in prison (of which 2 were served), the England international left jail as a known alcoholic.
Wenger and beyond
What’s Tony Adams doing now?
Adam’s managerial career hasn’t been glamorous by any means, and his relationship with the club has been a bit weird to say the least. His appearances at official Arsenal events are infrequent. Moreover, he passed up the opportunity offered to him by Arsenal to coach their U-18 side and preferred to work in the Far East. One sure thing – ‘Mr. Arsenal’ will always be regarded as one of the greatest players in the Gunners’ history, and of the most famous one-club men.
High point: Scoring the final goal in a 4-0 win against Everton to clinch the 97-98 League title.
Low point: Getting sentenced to four months of jail-time for drink-driving.
Nationality: English
Position: Centre-back
Goals Scored: 32
Total Appearances: 504
Yellow Cards: 36
Red Cards: 4
Teams Played for: Arsenal