Tony Adams
Mr Arsenal was no donkey really
| Full name: | Tony Alexander Adams |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: | October 10, 1966 |
| Clubs played for: | Arsenal |
| Clubs managed: | Wycombe, Portsmouth |
Club Career
Tony Adams spent his entire career at Arsenal having joined the club as a schoolboy in 1980. He made his senior debut in November 1983, four days after his 17th birthday, and went on to make more than 650 appearances in a career that spanned almost 20 years.
He overcame terrace abuse from rival fans, including the infamous 'Donkey' chants, to establish himself as one of the finest central defenders of his generation.
Club Stats
| Years | Clubs | App | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-2002 | Arsenal | 504 | 32 |
International Career
Adams made his England debut against Spain in 1987 and played in his first major tournament, Euro 88, a year later. He was left out of the 1990 World Cup squad, and missed Euro 92 through injury, but he was captain of Terry Venables' side that reached the semi-finals of Euro 96 on home soil.
He also played at the World Cup in 1998 and at Euro 2000, before retiring late in 2000, after 66 caps, when Sven-Goran Eriksson took charge.
International Career Stats
| Years | Clubs | App | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987-2000 | England | 66 | 5 |
Key Games
Turkey 0-2 England (World Cup qualifier, March 31, 1993)
Adams enjoyed many fine moments in an England jersey, but arguably he was never more impressive than in this brutal battle in Izmir. Turkey's rough-house tactics on the pitch were matched by those of the fans off it, as missiles rained down on to the pitch. But captain Adams refused to take a backward step, standing firm in the face of the vicious onslaught and inspiring England to a superb 2-0 win, thanks to goals from Paul Gascoigne and David Platt.
Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham (FA Cup semi-final, May 4, 1993)
Arsenal met Spurs in the FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley for the second time in three years, seeking revenge for the Gazza-inspired defeat they suffered in 1991. And they got it, helped in no small part by a fine display from Adams. He not only helped shut out Tottenham's attack, he also found time to go up the other end in the 79th minute to head home the only goal of the game.
Arsenal 4-0 Everton (Premier League, May 3, 1998)
Arsenal's first League title under Arsene Wenger was confirmed in emphatic style as they thumped Everton 4-0 at Highbury. A Slaven Bilic own goal after six minutes opened the floodgates, and Marc Overmars added two more before the home fans got the finale they wanted as Adams - who had not scored all season - ran on to a Steve Bould through ball to smash home a left foot drive with just a minute remaining.
Honours
| Club | Competition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | Premier League | 1997-98, 2001-02 |
| First Division Championship | 1998-89, 1990-91 | |
| FA Cup | 1993, 1998, 2002 | |
| League Cup | 1987, 1993 | |
| UEFA Cup | 2000 | |
| European Cup-Winners' Cup | 1994 |
Did You Know...?
When Tony Adams made his England debut in 1987, he was the first player born after the 1966 World Cup win to be selected.
His testimonial game against Celtic in May 2002 helped raise £500,000 for his Sporting Chances clinic.
Tony Adams was the first captain to lead a side to the FA Cup and League Cup double in the same season, in 1993.
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