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{{short description|English footballer and manager (born 1966)}}
{{about|the English international footballer|other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Tony Adams<br />{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}}}}
| image = Tony Adams 2017 portrait (cropped).jpg
| upright = 
| caption = Adams in 2017
| full_name = Tony Alexander Adams<ref name="Hugman1999/2000">{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The 1999–2000 Official PFA Footballers Factfile |year=1999 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=Harpenden |isbn=978-1-85291-607-7}}</ref>
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}<ref name="Hugman1999/2000"/>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|10|10|df=y}}<ref name="Hugman1999/2000"/>
| birth_place = [[Romford]], [[Greater London]], England
| position = [[Centre-back]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 1980–1983
| youthclubs1 = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| years1 = 1983–2002
| clubs1 = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| caps1 = 504
| goals1 = 32
| nationalyears1 = 1983–1984 | nationalteam1 = [[England national under-17 football team|England U17]]   | nationalcaps1 = 13 | nationalgoals1 = 5
| nationalyears2 = 1985      | nationalteam2 = [[England national under-18 football team|England Youth]] | nationalcaps2 = 1  | nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 1985–1986 | nationalteam3 = [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]]   | nationalcaps3 = 5  | nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears4 = 1989-1990| nationalteam4  = [[England national football B team|England B]]
| nationalcaps4  = 4
| nationalgoals4 = 1
| nationalyears5 = 1987–2000 | nationalteam5 = [[England national football team|England]]                | nationalcaps5 = 66 | nationalgoals5 = 5
| manageryears1 = 2003–2004
| managerclubs1 = [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]]
| manageryears2 = 2008–2009
| managerclubs2 = [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
| manageryears3 = 2010–2011
| managerclubs3 = [[Gabala FK|Gabala]]
| manageryears4 = 2017
| managerclubs4 = [[Granada CF|Granada]]
}}
'''Tony Alexander Adams''' (born 10 October 1966) is an English former [[Association football|football]] manager and player. Adams played for [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] and [[England national football team|England]], captaining both teams. Known as '''"Mr. Arsenal"''', he spent his [[List of one-club men in association football|entire playing career]] of 19 years as a [[centre-back]] there, making 672 total appearances and winning four English league titles. He is considered one of Arsenal's greatest ever players,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gunners Greatest 50 Players |url=https://www.arsenal.com/history/gunners-greatest-50-players |access-date=10 April 2023 |website=Arsenal.com}}</ref> and is also included in the [[Football League 100 Legends]].

With Arsenal, he won four top flight division titles, uniquely captaining a title-winning team in three different decades, three [[FA Cup]]s, two [[Football League Cup]]s, a [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] and two [[FA Community Shield]]s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48327172|title = Where does Kompany rank among Premier League leaders?|work = BBC Sport}}</ref> Adams is one of six people honoured with a statue outside the [[Emirates Stadium]], Arsenal's home ground. He won 66 caps for [[England national football team|England]] between 1987 and 2000, and played at four major tournaments.

When his playing career finished, Adams went into football management, spending periods in charge of [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]], [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]], [[Azerbaijan]]i side [[Gabala FK|Gabala]] and Spanish side [[Granada CF|Granada]].

From early in his career Adams was an alcoholic off the field, and after crashing his car was sentenced to four months in prison for driving while four times over the limit for blood alcohol. From 1996 he recovered completely, and became involved in helping sportspeople with drink, drug or gambling addictions, founding the [[Sporting Chance Clinic]].<ref name=interview24>{{cite interview| last=Adams| first=Tony| title='Prison didn't touch the sides': Tony Adams on addiction, losing the man who saved him and helping others|interviewer=Michael Butler|newspaper=The Observer| date=1 December 2024 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/dec/01/prison-didnt-touch-the-sides-tony-adams-on-addiction-losing-the-man-who-saved-him-and-helping-others}}</ref>

==Early life==
Born in [[Romford]], Adams grew up in [[Dagenham]] and was a pupil at Hunters Hall Primary School from 1971 to 1978 and then [[Eastbrook Comprehensive School]] from 1978 to 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lbbd.gov.uk/MuseumsAndHeritage/LocalHistoryResources/Documents/Infosheet52FootballpersonalitiesofBD.pdf|title=Football personalities of Barking and Dagenham|publisher=London Borough of Barking & Dagengham|access-date=22 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605124917/http://www.lbbd.gov.uk/MuseumsAndHeritage/LocalHistoryResources/Documents/Infosheet52FootballpersonalitiesofBD.pdf|archive-date=5 June 2012}}</ref> His cousin is fellow professional footballer [[Steve MacKenzie]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nacoa.org.uk/news-and-events/news/2015/10/19/personal-experiences/ |title=Tony Adams, Lauren Booth, Geraldine James and Elle Macpherson share experience, strength and hopes |publisher=nacoa.org.uk |date=19 October 2015 |access-date=12 July 2019 |archive-date=12 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712115328/http://nacoa.org.uk/news-and-events/news/2015/10/19/personal-experiences/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Club career==

=== 1983–1989: Early career and Anfield title ===
Adams signed for Arsenal as a schoolboy in 1980,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-15 |title=Tony Adams |url=https://www.arsenal.com/historic/players/tony-adams |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=www.arsenal.com |language=en}}</ref> and made his first-team debut on 5 November 1983 against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]], aged 17.<ref name=":1">Maidment (2008), p. 54.</ref><ref name="highs" /> He accidentally put his shorts on back-to-front before the match. Then, with virtually his first touch of the ball during the game, he gave it away, leading to Sunderland's opening goal. He put the ball into the opponents' net, but the goal was disallowed.<ref name=":1" /> Adams became a regular player in the [[1986–87 in English football|1986–87 season]], winning his first major trophy that season when playing in the [[Football League Cup]] Final win over [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]].<ref name="highs" />

On 1 January 1988, he became Arsenal captain at the age of 21,<ref name="greatest">{{cite web|url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/gunners-greatest-players-no-3.-tony-adams|title=Gunners' Greatest Players – 3. Tony Adams|author=Arsenal.com|work=Official Arsenal Website|date=5–19 May 2008|access-date=24 November 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212013429/http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/gunners-greatest-players-no-3.-tony-adams|archive-date=12 December 2008}}</ref> remaining as club captain for the next 14 years until his retirement.

Adams's strong discipline of the defence was considered a factor in Arsenal winning the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] in [[1986–87 in English football|1986–87]] and then the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] championship twice; the first in [[1988–89 in English football|1988–89]] after a [[Liverpool 0–2 Arsenal (26 May 1989)|win]] over [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in the final game of the season; the second in [[1990–91 in English football|1990–91]], losing once all season.

=== 1989–1996: Arsenal's famous back four ===
Together with [[Lee Dixon]], [[Nigel Winterburn]] and [[Steve Bould]], Adams was part of the "famous back four" that lined up in Arsenal's defence, which under [[George Graham (footballer, born 1944)|George Graham]] was renowned for its well-disciplined use of the [[offside trap]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smyth |first=Rob |date=2009-05-08 |title=The Joy of Six: Great defences |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/may/08/joy-of-six-great-defences |access-date=2024-05-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The backline achieved legendary status with its unyielding resilience, remaining formidable for over a decade. Arsenal notably conceded just 18 goals during their title-winning [[1990–91 Arsenal F.C. season|1990–91 league season]], and the four players amassed over 2,000 appearances for the club.<ref>Maidment (2008), p. 75.</ref>

In [[1992–93 in English football|1992–93]] Adams was the captain of the first English side to win the League Cup and [[FA Cup]] double.<ref>{{cite web|author=Joe Lovejoy |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football--european-cupwinners-cup-smiths-strike-brings-arsenal-european-glory-battling-londoners-make-light-of-the-loss-of-wright-and-jensen-1433888.html |title=European Cup-Winners Cup: Smith's strike brings Arsenal European glory: Battling Londoners make light of the loss of Wright and Jensen |work=The Independent|date=5 May 1994 |access-date=6 December 2020}}</ref> In 1994, Adams led Arsenal to their first European trophy in 24 years by defeating favourites [[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]] 1–0 in the [[1994 European Cup Winners' Cup final]] in Copenhagen.<ref>Maidment (2008), p. 67.</ref>

Despite this success, [[alcoholism]] increasingly blighted his life from the mid-1980s. He was reportedly often involved in fights in [[nightclub]]s, and on 6 May 1990 crashed his car into a wall in [[Rayleigh, Essex|Rayleigh]]; his blood alcohol level was found to be more than four times the legal [[Drunk driving law by country#United Kingdom|drink-drive limit]]. On 19 December that year, at [[Southend Crown Court]],<ref name="greatest" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.askmen.com/top_10/sports/top-10-stupid-criminal-acts-by-footballers_4.html|title=Tony Adams|publisher=Ask Men|access-date=22 February 2014|archive-date=16 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031322/https://uk.askmen.com/top_10/sports/top-10-stupid-criminal-acts-by-footballers_4.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arsenal.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=519627|title=Stick Your Two Points Up Your Arsenal|first=Tim|last=Stillman|publisher=Vital Football|date=25 July 2010|archive-date=25 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925230420/http://www.arsenal.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=519627|url-status=dead}}</ref> he was sentenced to four months in prison, and freed after half of his sentence on 15 February 1991,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Watts |first1=Charles |title=27 years on: The inside story of Tony Adams' return from prison as told by those who were there |url=https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/arsenal-news-tony-adams-highbury-14297249 |access-date=12 October 2022 |publisher=Football London |date=16 February 2018}}</ref> but continued drinking for another six years. Adams in a 2024 interview said that in early 1996, aged 29, he was in a very dark period, not wanting to live when not playing football, unable to "do life". He was injured that February, removing football. One Sunday evening he drank seven bottles of [[Chablis wine|chablis]], so his (first) mother-in-law took the children.<ref name=interview24/>

From mid-1996, with help from a man he named only as "James W",<ref name=interview24/> he became one of the most high-profile [[recovering alcoholic]]s in the UK;<ref name="ias">{{cite journal|url=http://www.ias.org.uk/What-we-do/Publication-archive/Alcohol-Alert/Issue-3-1998/Adams-turns-his-back-on-alcohol.aspx|title=Adams turns his back on alcohol - review of Adams's ''Addicted''|author=Paul Whittaker|journal=Alcohol Alert|issue=1998–3|publisher=Institute of Alcohol Studies|date=March 1998}}</ref> his battle with alcohol is detailed in his [[autobiography]], ''Addicted'', which was released in May 1998 to critical acclaim.<ref name="ias" /> ''BBC News'' reported in 2001 that he had become [[teetotalism|tee-total]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Battling the booze|work=[[BBC News]]|date=4 October 2001|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1578718.stm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728050312/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1578718.stm|archive-date=28 July 2017}}</ref>

=== 1996–2002: Wenger's arrival and retirement ===

{{quote box
| quote = "When I first came to Arsenal, I realised the back four were all university graduates in the art of defending. As for Tony Adams, I consider him to be a doctor of defence."
| source = – Wenger hailing Adams' experience in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-artistic-and-cultural-influence-of-arsenals-famous-back-four/ |title=The Artistic and Cultural Influence of Arsenal's Famous Back Four |date=9 February 2017 |last=Magee |first=Will |website=Vice |access-date=10 May 2024}}</ref>
| align = right
| width = 25%
}}Six weeks into Adams's sobriety, [[Arsène Wenger]] arrived as Arsenal manager in October 1996. Adams reflected in 2020 that Wenger understood his psychology, and knew of the dangers of alcohol, as his parents ran a pub.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wrack |first1=Susy |title=Tony Adams: 'Alcohol gave me a good hiding – I needed a lot of pain' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jan/31/tony-adams-alcohol-gave-me-good-hiding-i-needed-pain-sporting-chance-arsenal |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=31 January 2020}}</ref> Adams rewarded his manager's understanding handsomely, captaining the club to two [[FA Premier League|Premiership]] and FA Cup [[Double (association football)|Doubles]], in [[1997–98 in English football|1997–98]] and [[2001–02 in English football|2001–02]].<ref name="highs">{{cite news |title=Tony Adams' career highs and lows |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/feb/09/tony-adams-career-profile-portsmouth |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=9 February 2009}}</ref>

In August 2002, just before the start of the [[2002–03 in English football|2002–03]] season, Adams retired from professional football after a career spanning almost 20 years, his last match being the [[2002 FA Cup Final]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ridley |first1=Ian |title=Adams: the next chapter |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/aug/11/newsstory.sport12 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=11 August 2002}}</ref> He played 674 matches for Arsenal (only [[David O'Leary]] has played more) and was the most successful captain in the club's history. The number 6 shirt that Adams wore when playing was not used again until the [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07 season]], when it was assigned to [[Philippe Senderos]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mannion |first1=Damian |title=From Ronaldo to Owen, Dalglish to Clough, Adams to Senderos: famous numbers worn by crap players |url=https://talksport.com/uncategorized/143783/ronaldo-owen-dalglish-clough-adams-senderos-famous-numbers-worn-crap-pla-175835/ |access-date=12 October 2022 |publisher=Talksport |date=4 July 2012}}</ref>

Just before his retirement as a player, Adams had applied to become manager of [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] (who had just missed out on promotion to Division One) after the resignation of [[Steve Coppell]], but his application was rejected.<ref>{{cite news
| url        = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/2069118.stm
| title      = Brentford snub Adams
| work  = [[BBC Sport]]
| date       = 27 June 2002
| access-date = 8 January 2009
| location=London}}</ref>

Nicknamed "Mr Arsenal", he was honoured by Arsenal with a testimonial game against [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] in May 2002 with many Arsenal legends playing, including [[Ian Wright]], [[John Lukic]] and Adams's fellow back four stalwarts, Dixon, Winterburn and Bould. The game finished 1–1 with Lee Dixon, in his final appearance for the Gunners, getting their goal.<ref name="testimonial">{{cite news |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=14 May 2002 |title=A night out for the Adams family |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/may/14/newsstory.sport1 |access-date=28 October 2008 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> In March 2003, just seven months after his retirement and with Arsenal [[BBC Sport]] named Adams as the former Arsenal player that the club would most benefit from returning.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2872203.stm | work=BBC News | title=Blast from the past: Part one | date=24 March 2003 | first=Tom | last=Fordyce}}</ref>

In 2004, Adams was inducted into the [[English Football Hall of Fame]] in recognition of his impact on the English game, and in 2008 he was placed third in the 50 Greatest Gunners poll on the club's website.

A statue of Adams was placed outside Emirates Stadium in celebration of the club's 125th anniversary on 9 December 2011. Manager Herbert Chapman and Arsenal's all-time top goal scorer [[Thierry Henry]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Jeremy |title=Arsenal to unveil statues of Thierry Henry, Tony Adams, and Herbert Chapman for 125th anniversary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/8939187/Arsenal-to-unveil-statues-of-Thierry-Henry-Tony-Adams-and-Herbert-Chapman-for-125th-anniversary.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/8939187/Arsenal-to-unveil-statues-of-Thierry-Henry-Tony-Adams-and-Herbert-Chapman-for-125th-anniversary.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=2 September 2020 |work=The Telegraph |date=7 December 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and later [[Dennis Bergkamp]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Arsenal unveil Dennis Bergkamp statue |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-26303200 |access-date=2 September 2020 |work=BBC News |date=22 February 2014}}</ref> and Arsène Wenger,<ref>{{cite news |title=Arsène Wenger statue unveiled at Emirates Stadium  |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/arsene-wenger-statue-unveiled-emirates-stadium |work=Arsenal.com |date=28 July 2023}}</ref> were also immortalised with statues outside the ground.

==International career==
[[File:EK voetbal in West Duitsland Engeland tegen Nederland 1-3, Bestanddeelnr 934-2662.jpg|thumb|right|Adams (left) playing for [[England national football team|England]] at [[UEFA Euro 1988]], as the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]' [[Marco van Basten]] scores the first of his three goals]]
Adams made his debut for [[England national football team|England]] against [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]] in 1987,<ref name="highs" /> and played in [[UEFA Euro 1988]]. England lost all three games, but Adams scored one of England's two goals in the tournament in a 3–1 defeat to the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]]. He was the first player to represent England who had been born after the 1966 World Cup win.

After a highly promising start to his international career, Adams suffered a series of setbacks during the early 1990s. He was surprisingly left out of the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]] squad by manager [[Bobby Robson]],<ref name="highs" /> missed [[UEFA Euro 1992]] due to injury, whilst England failed to qualify for the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]]. England reached the semi-finals of [[UEFA Euro 1996]], before losing on [[penalty shootout (football)|penalties]] to [[Germany national football team|Germany]].

Adams appeared at the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]]. Later that year, he made headlines for several statements in his autobiography ''Addicted'', criticising manager [[Glenn Hoddle]] for his management of [[David Beckham]] and [[Paul Gascoigne]], and for making [[Alan Shearer]] captain instead of Adams; he also called Gascoigne an alcoholic, which was denied by the player's representatives. Hoddle told the press that he had no problems with Adams's opinions from the book.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hoddle and Adams 'closer than ever' |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/163111.stm |access-date=12 October 2022 |publisher=BBC News |date=9 September 1998}}</ref>

His international swansong was England's unsuccessful [[UEFA Euro 2000]] campaign. With Shearer retiring from international football after the tournament, Adams regained the captaincy. However, within months, England lost a World Cup qualifier to Germany in October 2000, the match being the last to be staged at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], before the stadium was torn down for rebuilding. That match was Adams's 60th Wembley appearance, a record. With [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]] eventually taking the helm and under increasing pressure for his place from the emerging and improving [[Rio Ferdinand]], Adams retired from international football, having made 66 appearances,<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/adams-intl.html| title = Tony Alexander Adams – International Appearances| access-date = 24 October 2008}}</ref> before Eriksson picked his first squad. He was the last England player to score at the old Wembley Stadium when he scored England's second goal in a 2–0 friendly win over [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]] on 31 May 2000. This was also his first goal since he scored in a friendly against [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] in November 1988, thus making the record for the longest gap between goals for England.

==Style of play==
Described as a "stopper" (or man–marking defender) by Tom Sheen of ''The Guardian'' in 2014, Adams played as a centre-back. A tall, brave, rugged, physical, and committed defender, his main traits were his leadership, aerial prowess, and his ability to read the game and time his tackles. While initially he was not known to be the most gifted player on the ball from a technical standpoint, he developed this aspect of his game under Wenger, and he later excelled as a ball-playing centre-back, in which he became known for his ability to carry the ball out from the back, as well as his penchant for undertaking individual runs.<ref name="testimonial" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/john-terry-captained-chelsea-for-the-500th-time-on-saturday-but-is-he-the-best-centre-back-of-the-9806372.html |title=John Terry captained Chelsea for the 500th time on Saturday - is he the best centre-back in the Premier League era? |work=The Independent |last1=Sheen |first1=Tom |date=20 October 2014 |access-date=27 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="blindspot">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/jan/19/nemanja-vidic-footballer-of-year|title=Judges have a blindspot when destroyers like Vidic play a blinder|work=The Guardian|author1=Rob Bagchi|date=19 January 2011|access-date=2 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arsenal.com/history/gunners-greatest-players-no-3.-tony-adams |title=Greatest 50 Players - 3. Tony Adams |publisher=Arsenal |date=31 May 2017 |access-date=27 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2733695-assigning-fifa-card-ratings-to-21st-century-arsenal-legends |title=Assigning FIFA Card Ratings to 21st Century Arsenal Legends |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=MCNICHOLAS |first1=JAMES |date=19 September 2017 |access-date=27 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/04/01/tony-adams-exclusive-interview-have-defied-odds-thought-dead/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/04/01/tony-adams-exclusive-interview-have-defied-odds-thought-dead/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Tony Adams exclusive interview: 'I have defied all the odds - I thought I'd be dead at 30' |work=Telegraph |last1=Eccleshare |first1=Charlie |date=1 April 2019 |access-date=27 April 2020 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/06/defending-england-dna-roy-hodgson-centre-backs-euro-2016 |title=The lost art of defending: how style has replaced solidity in England's DNA |work=The Guardian |last1=Lawrence |first1=Amy |date=6 June 2016 |access-date=27 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="oscuro">{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/it/notizie/il-lato-oscuro-di-tony-adams-la-lunga-e-difficile-battaglia/ooksfjbsv3eh1dav8rlxafuer |title=Il lato oscuro di Tony Adams: la lunga e difficile battaglia contro l'alcol |publisher=www.goal.com |language=it |last1=Camedda |first1=Paolo |date=10 October 2020 |access-date=20 October 2020 }}</ref> However, he was also known for his lack of pace.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/terry-butcher-perfect-xi |title=Terry Butcher: Perfect XI |publisher=FourFourTwo |last1=Harper |first1=Nick |date=1 February 2006 |access-date=27 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Vieira the hero as Arsenal leave it late |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/vieira-the-hero-as-arsenal-leave-it-late-1.114338 |access-date=27 April 2020 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=9 December 1996}}</ref>

==Managerial and coaching career==
[[File:Arif Isayev komanda.jpg|thumb|Adams (centre) with the Gabala senior team in 2010]]After starting a [[sports science]] degree at [[Brunel University]], Adams became the manager of [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] on 5 November 2003. He took over the team that were in last place in the [[Football League Second Division]] (third tier).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ingle |first1=Sean |title=Excited Adams takes over at Wycombe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/nov/05/newsstory.sport5 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=5 November 2003}}</ref> On his debut three days later, he won 4–1 at home to [[Swindon Town]] in the first round of the FA Cup.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wycombe 4, Swindon 1 |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wycombe-4-swindon-1-1668367 |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=Chronicle Live |date=9 November 2009}}</ref> After a 2–1 loss at [[Tranmere Rovers]] on 12 April 2004 left the Chairboys 12 points inside the relegation zone with four games remaining, Adams said that his team would carry on fighting; unbeknown to the club, they were already relegated as two teams above them still had to play each other.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harrison |first1=Lindsay |title=Relegation belatedly sinks in at Wycombe |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/relegation-belatedly-sinks-in-at-wycombe-56061.html |access-date=12 October 2022 |work=The Independent |date=15 April 2004}}</ref>

Wycombe began 2004–05 in the fourth tier, renamed [[Football League Two|League Two]]. Although the club were top of the table in August 2004, a loss of form saw them fall down the table. Adams resigned from Wycombe on 9 November 2004, with the club in 17th, citing personal reasons.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wycombe_wanderers/3995677.stm | title=Adams resigns as Wycombe manager | work=BBC Sport | date=9 November 2004 | access-date=25 March 2010 | location=London}}</ref>

In July 2005, Adams accepted a trainee coaching role with Dutch side [[Feyenoord Rotterdam|Feyenoord]] with special responsibility for its Jong team, which is a reserve/junior side. Adams later had a short spell seconded to [[FC Utrecht|Utrecht]] as a first team trainee coach in January and February 2006. While at Feyenoord he also worked part-time as a scout for Arsenal, watching games in Italy, France and the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.setanta.com/US/Articles/Football/2009/06/03/Exclusive-Adams-on-Arsenal-interest/gnid-55518/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607082940/http://www.setanta.com/US/Articles/Football/2009/06/03/Exclusive-Adams-on-Arsenal-interest/gnid-55518/|archive-date=7 June 2009|title=Exclusive: Italian job for Gunners|first=Chris|last=Stanton|publisher=Setanta|date=3 June 2009|access-date=22 February 2014}}</ref>

Adams joined [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] as assistant manager to [[Harry Redknapp]] in June 2006, a position left vacant by the departure of [[Kevin Bond (English footballer)|Kevin Bond]]. In his first season as assistant, Portsmouth finished ninth in the [[Premier League]] – their highest standing since the 1950s and won the [[2007–08 FA Cup]]. Adams was appointed caretaker manager of Portsmouth in October 2008, alongside [[Joe Jordan (footballer)|Joe Jordan]],<ref name="portsmouth_manager">
{{Cite news
| url        = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/oct/28/portsmouth-premierleague
| title      = Adams set to be unveiled as new Portsmouth manager
| work       = [[The Guardian]]
| date       = 28 October 2008
| access-date = 28 October 2008
| first=John | last=Ashdown | location=London}}
</ref> following the departure of [[Harry Redknapp]] to [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]. He was subsequently appointed full-time manager.<ref name="portsmouth_manager" /><ref>{{cite news
 |url         = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/7693323.stm
 |title       = Adams appointed new Pompey boss
 |work        = [[BBC]]
 |date        = 28 October 2008
|access-date  = 28 October 2008
|location    = London
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090213182919/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/7693323.stm
 |archive-date = 13 February 2009
|url-status     = live
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> He was sacked in February 2009 after just 16 games in charge in which Portsmouth picked up only 10 points.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pompey confirm Adams axe |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_4906973,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009014026/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_4906973,00.html |archive-date=9 October 2012 |work=Sky Sports |publisher=British Sky Broadcasting |date=9 February 2009 |access-date=11 February 2009}}</ref>

In May 2010, Adams signed a three-year contract to manage [[Azerbaijan]]i club [[Gabala FK|FC Gabala]] of the [[Azerbaijan Premier League]].<ref name="aze">
{{Cite news
| url        = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8675874.stm
| title      = Tony Adams' grand plans for Azerbaijan football club
| work       = [[BBC]]
| date       = 11 May 2010
| access-date = 12 May 2010
| first=Tom
| last=Esslemont}}
</ref> He departed as coach of Gabala due on 16 November 2011, before the end of the [[2011–12 Azerbaijan Premier League|2011–12 season]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/tony-adams-quits-as-manager-of-fc-gabala-6264409.html|title=Tony Adams quits as manager of FC Gabala|newspaper=Independent|date=18 November 2011|access-date=22 February 2014}}</ref>

In October 2012, Adams returned to Gabala in the capacity of Sporting Director.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/19906843 |title=Tony Adams returns to FC Gabala in Azerbaijan – BBC Sport |work=BBC Sport |access-date=21 April 2019}}</ref>

Whilst sporting director at Gabala, Adams suffered from acute chest pain whilst exercising. At the Baku Medical Plaza he was diagnosed with a severely blocked vein and underwent a successful [[angioplasty]]. After disclosing the surgery, Adams said the minor heart operation saved his life.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 November 2015 |title=Tony Adams reveals heart surgery in Azerbaijan saved his life |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/04/tony-adams-heart-surgery-azerbaijan-gabala-arsenal |access-date=2 September 2020 |work=The Guardian |agency=Press Association}}</ref>

On 10 April 2017, Adams was named as manager of [[La Liga]] strugglers [[Granada CF]] until the end of the [[2016–17 Granada CF season|2016–17]] season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tony Adams named as Granada manager until end of season|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/10/tony-adams-granada-manager-end-of-season?CMP=share_btn_tw|work=The Guardian|access-date=10 April 2017|date=10 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.granadacf.es/en/new/tony-adams-talks-about-his-role-at-granada-cf|title=Tony Adams talks about hifccfdds role at Granada CF|publisher=Granada CF website|date=10 April 2017|access-date=10 April 2017}}</ref> At the end of the season, Granada were relegated from [[La Liga]] ending their six-year stay in the top division. Adams lost all seven games as manager and was subsequently sacked.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/tony-adams-granada-are-relegated-la-liga-a7709386.html|title=Tony Adams' Granada are relegated – now the real challenge starts|date=29 April 2017|website=The Independent|access-date=21 April 2019}}</ref>

==Outside football==
Adams married Jane Shea in 1992, after they met at a nightclub in [[Islington]]; the couple had two children together, a son and a daughter. They divorced in 1997 amid the couple's substance abuse. Following his recovery from [[alcoholism]], Adams married Poppy Teacher in 2004 and had three children together.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murphy |first=Nichola |date=15 October 2022 |title=Strictly's Tony Adams gives update on addict ex-wife following prison sentence |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/20221015154086/strictly-tony-adams-marriage-jailed-addict-ex-wife-jane-shea/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=Hello!}}</ref> Poppy is a fifth-generation descendent of whisky firm founder William Teacher.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Richard |date=16 December 2004 |title=Adams marries whisky heiress |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/adams-marries-whisky-heiress-7213610.html |access-date=16 September 2024 |website=Evening Standard}}</ref>

In September 2000, as a result of his own experiences with alcoholism and drug addiction, Adams founded the [[Sporting Chance Clinic]], a charitable foundation aimed at providing treatment, counselling and support for sports men and women suffering from drink, drug or [[gambling addiction]]s. The clinic is modelled on the substance-abuse rehabilitation facility [[Crossroads Centre]], founded by music artist [[Eric Clapton]].<ref>
{{Cite news |last=Sengupta |first=Kim |date=21 August 2000 |title=Tony Adams to provide safe haven for alcoholic and drug-addict footballers |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/tony-adams-to-provide-safe-haven-for-alcoholic-and-drugaddict-footballers-710805.html |access-date=28 October 2008 |work=The Independent |location=}}</ref> The registered charity is supported by [[Elton John]], [[Kate Hoey]], [[Lee Dixon]], [[Tony Smith (rugby league, born 1970)|Tony Smith]], [[Tony McCoy]], and [[Kelly Holmes]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2024 |title=The Football Association's Commitment to Support Victims of Discrimination |url=https://www.thefa.com/-/media/thefacom-new/files/rules-and-regulations/2023-24/28022024/the-fa-commitment-to-victims-of-discrimination.ashx |access-date=16 September 2024 |publisher=The Football Association |type=PDF}}</ref> Adams' Arsenal testimonial match in May 2002 also raised £500,000 for the foundation.<ref name="testimonial" />

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Adams founded Six Mental Health Solutions (SIX MHS), an organisation that provides mental health and addiction services to employees across a range of partnered businesses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Guy |date=29 October 2022 |title='Oh my god, you're that dancer': Strictly's Tony Adams on how Arsenal fans see him now |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2022/10/29/oh-god-dancer-strictlys-tony-adams-how-arsenal-fans-see-now/?ICID=continue_without_subscribing_reg_first |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/JqQUj |archive-date=16 September 2024 |access-date=16 September 2024 |website=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> SIX MHS has since formed partnerships with several organisations, including the building materials company [[Jewson]] in 2021,<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 May 2021 |title=Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 – Industry initiatives |url=https://professionalbuildersmerchant.co.uk/news/mental-health-awareness-week-2021-industry-initiatives/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |website=Professional Builders Merchant |publisher=Hamerville Media Group}}</ref> and the [[Football Writers' Association]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 January 2024 |title=FWA teams up with Tony Adams' SIX MHS group |url=https://footballwriters.co.uk/editorial/fwa-teams-up-with-tony-adams-six-mhs-group/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |publisher=Football Writers' Association}}</ref> He is also a patron of the [[National Association for Children of Alcoholics (United Kingdom)|National Association for Children of Alcoholics]] (NACOA UK), [[The Forward Trust]], [[School-Home Support]] (SHS), and Saving Faces, a facial surgery research foundation.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=10 August 2022 |title=Football legend Tony Adams MBE is our latest signing for Strictly 2022! |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/webarchive/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Fstrictlycomedancing%2Fentries%2Fd8da35e4-7f55-46ba-925f-038daccb32b1 |access-date=16 September 2024 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Facial Surgery Research Foundation - Saving Faces |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3972151 |access-date=16 September 2024 |publisher=Charity Commission for England and Wales}}</ref>

In December 2018, Adams was named as the 29th President of the [[Rugby Football League]], replacing politician [[Andy Burnham]];<ref name="rfl19">{{Cite news |last=Bower |first=Aaron |date=12 December 2018 |title=Tony Adams to become new president of Rugby Football League |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/dec/12/former-arsenal-captain-tony-adams-appointed-rugby-league-president |access-date=3 December 2019 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> he was succeeded in the honorary role by broadcaster [[Clare Balding]] a year later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Willacy |first=Gavin |date=14 July 2020 |title=Tony Adams: 'Hopefully people have had periods of reflection in lockdown' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/no-helmets-required/2020/jul/14/tony-adams-hopefully-people-have-had-periods-of-reflection-in-lockdown |access-date=16 September 2024 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> Adams also took part as a celebrity contestant in the [[Strictly Come Dancing series 20|twentieth series]] of ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'' in 2022''.<ref name=":2" />'' After partnering with dance professional [[Katya Jones]], the duo placed ninth after Adams was forced to withdraw due to injury.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nimoni |first=Fiona |date=14 November 2022 |title=Strictly Come Dancing: Tony Adams withdraws with an injury |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63615618 |access-date=16 September 2024 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> Adams also advised novelist [[Jilly Cooper]] on her 2023 book ''[[Tackle!]]<ref name=":03">{{Cite news |last=Cooke |first=Rachel |date=2023-11-12 |title=Tackle! review – Jilly Cooper takes on the beautiful game |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/nov/12/tackle-jilly-cooper-review-football |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>''

==Playing statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Club
! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Season
! colspan="3" scope="colgroup" |League
! colspan="2" scope="colgroup" |[[FA Cup]]
! colspan="2" scope="colgroup" |[[EFL Cup|League Cup]]
! colspan="2" scope="colgroup" |[[UEFA club competitions|Europe]]
! colspan="2" scope="colgroup" |Other
! colspan="2" scope="colgroup" |Total
|-
! scope="col" |Division
! scope="col" |Apps
! scope="col" |Goals
! scope="col" |Apps
! scope="col" |Goals
! scope="col" |Apps
! scope="col" |Goals
! scope="col" |Apps
! scope="col" |Goals
! scope="col" |Apps
! scope="col" |Goals
! scope="col" |Apps
! scope="col" |Goals
|-
| rowspan="19" scope="rowgroup" |[[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| scope="row" |[[1983–84 Arsenal F.C. season|1983–84]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 358.</ref>
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|3||0||0||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||3||0
|-
| scope="row" |[[1984–85 Arsenal F.C. season|1984–85]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 362.</ref>
|First Division
|16||0||1||0||1||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||18||0
|-
| scope="row" |[[1985–86 Arsenal F.C. season|1985–86]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 366.</ref>
|First Division
|10||0||0||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||10||0
|-
| scope="row" |[[1986–87 Arsenal F.C. season|1986–87]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 372.</ref>
|First Division
|42||6||4||0||9||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||55||6
|-
| scope="row" |[[1987–88 Arsenal F.C. season|1987–88]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 376.</ref>
|First Division
|39||2||4||0||8||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||51||2
|-
| scope="row" |[[1988–89 Arsenal F.C. season|1988–89]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 380.</ref>
|First Division
|36||4||2||0||5||0|| colspan="2" |—||3{{Efn|Appearances in [[Football League Centenary Trophy]]{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}}}
|1
|46||5
|-
| scope="row" |[[1989–90 Arsenal F.C. season|1989–90]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 384.</ref>
|First Division
|38||5||3||0||4||0|| colspan="2" |—||1{{efn|name=FACh|Appearance in [[FA Charity Shield]]}}||0||46||5
|-
| scope="row" |[[1990–91 Arsenal F.C. season|1990–91]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 388.</ref>
|First Division
|30||1||3||1||4||2|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||37||4
|-
| scope="row" |[[1991–92 Arsenal F.C. season|1991–92]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 392.</ref>
|First Division
|35||2||1||0||3||0||4{{efn|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup/UEFA Champions League]]|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=FACh}}||0||44||2
|-
| scope="row" |[[1992–93 Arsenal F.C. season|1992–93]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 396.</ref>
|[[Premier League]]
|35||0||8||2||9||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||52||2
|-
| scope="row" |[[1993–94 Arsenal F.C. season|1993–94]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 400.</ref>
|Premier League
|35||0||3||2||2||0||8{{efn|Appearances in [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]}}||2||1{{efn|name=FACh}}||0||49||4
|-
| scope="row" |[[1994–95 Arsenal F.C. season|1994–95]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 404.</ref>
|Premier League
|27||3||1||0||4||1||10{{efn|Eight appearances in European Cup Winners' Cup; two appearances in [[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cup]]}}||0|| colspan="2" |—||42||4
|-
| scope="row" |[[1995–96 Arsenal F.C. season|1995–96]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 408.</ref>
|Premier League
|21||1||2||0||5||2|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||28||3
|-
| scope="row" |[[1996–97 Arsenal F.C. season|1996–97]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 414.</ref>
|Premier League
|28||3||3||0||3||0||1{{efn|name=UEFAC|Appearance(s) in [[UEFA Cup]]}}||0|| colspan="2" |—||35||3
|-
| scope="row" |[[1997–98 Arsenal F.C. season|1997–98]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 418.</ref>
|Premier League
|26||3||6||0||2||0||2{{efn|name=UEFAC}}||0|| colspan="2" |—||36||3
|-
| scope="row" |[[1998–99 Arsenal F.C. season|1998–99]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 422.</ref>
|Premier League
|26||1||5||0||0||0||4{{efn||name=UCL}}||1||1{{efn|name=FACh}}||0||36||2
|-
| scope="row" |[[1999–2000 Arsenal F.C. season|1999–2000]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 426.</ref>
|Premier League
|21||0||1||1||0||0||11{{efn|Six appearances in UEFA Cup; five appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||0||0||0||33||1
|-
| scope="row" |[[2000–01 Arsenal F.C. season|2000–01]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 430.</ref>
|Premier League
|26||1||4||1||0||0||8{{efn||name=UCL}}||0|| colspan="2" |—||38||2
|-
| scope="row" |[[2001–02 Arsenal F.C. season|2001–02]]<ref>James, Andrews & Kelly (2018), p. 434.</ref>
|Premier League
|10||0||3||1||0||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||13||1
|-
! colspan="3" scope="row" |Career total
!504!!32!!54!!8!!59!!5!!48!!3!!7!!1!!672!!49
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=General Information about the player Tony Adams |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/13793/Tony_Adams.html |access-date=27 March 2024 |website=national-football-teams.com}}</ref>
! scope="col" |National team
! scope="col" |Year
! scope="col" |Apps
! scope="col" |Goals
|-
| rowspan="13" |[[England national football team|England]]||1987||6||1
|-
| scope="row" |1988||11||3
|-
| scope="row" |1990||1||0
|-
| scope="row" |1991||1||0
|-
| scope="row" |1992||2||0
|-
| scope="row" |1993||7||0
|-
| scope="row" |1994||5||0
|-
| scope="row" |1995||6||0
|-
| scope="row" |1996||7||0
|-
| scope="row" |1997||2||0
|-
| scope="row" |1998||8||0
|-
| scope="row" |1999||6||0
|-
| scope="row" |2000||4||1
|-
! colspan="2" scope="row" |Total!!66!!5
|}
:''Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Adams goal.<ref name=":0" />''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Tony Adams
! scope="col" |No.
! scope="col" |Date
! scope="col" |Venue
! scope="col" |Opponent
! scope="col" |Score
! scope="col" |Result
! scope="col" |Competition
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref.|reference}}
|-
| scope="row" align="center" |1 || 11 November 1987 || [[Red Star Stadium|Stadion Crvene Zvezde]], Belgrade, Yugoslavia || {{fb|YUG}} || align="center" |4–0 || align="center" |4–1 || [[UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying Group 4|UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying]]
| align="center" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yugoslavia vs. England |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/33171/Yugoslavia_England.html |access-date=27 March 2024 |website=national-football-teams.com}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" align="center" |2 || 23 March 1988 || [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], London, England || {{fb|NED}} || align="center" |2–2 || align="center" |2–2 || [[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
| align="center" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=England vs. Netherlands |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/33087/England_Netherlands.html |access-date=27 March 2024 |website=national-football-teams.com}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" align="center" |3 || 18 June 1988 || [[Waldstadion (Frankfurt)|Waldstadion]], Frankfurt, Germany || {{fb|URS}} || align="center" |1–1 || align="center" |1–3 || [[UEFA Euro 1988 Group 2|UEFA Euro 1988]]
| align="center" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=England vs. Soviet Union |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/16314/England_Soviet_Union_1.html |access-date=27 March 2024 |website=national-football-teams.com}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" align="center" |4 || 16 November 1988 || [[King Fahd International Stadium|King Fahd Stadium]], Riyadh, Saudi Arabia || {{fb|KSA}} || align="center" |1–1 || align="center" |1–1 || [[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
| align="center" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saudi Arabia vs. England |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/33170/Saudi_Arabia_England.html |access-date=27 March 2024 |website=national-football-teams.com}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" align="center" |5 || 31 May 2000 || [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], London, England || {{fb|UKR}} || align="center" |2–0 || align="center" |2–0 || [[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
| align="center" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=England vs. Ukraine |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/22685/England_Ukraine.html |access-date=27 March 2024 |website=national-football-teams.com}}</ref>
|}

==Managerial statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}
! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Team
! rowspan="2" scope="col" |From
! rowspan="2" scope="col" |To
! colspan="5" scope="colgroup" |Record
|-
! scope="col" |{{abbr|P|Matches played}}
! scope="col" |{{abbr|W|Matches won}}
! scope="col" |{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}
! scope="col" |{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}
! scope="col" |{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
|-
| scope="row" align="left" |[[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]]
| align="left" |5 November 2003
| align="left" |9 November 2004
{{WDL|53|12|21|20|decimals=1}}
|-
| scope="row" align="left" |[[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
| align="left" |28 October 2008
| align="left" |9 February 2009
{{WDL|21|4|6|11|decimals=1}}
|-
| scope="row" align="left" |[[Gabala SC|Gabala]]
| align="left" | 12 May 2010
| align="left" |16 November 2011
{{WDL|45|17|15|13|decimals=1}}
|-
| scope="row" align="left" |[[Granada CF|Granada]]
| align="left" |10 April 2017
| align="left" |3 June 2017
{{WDL|7|0|0|7|decimals=1}}
|-
! colspan="3" scope="row" |Total
{{WDLtot|126|33|42|51|decimals=1}}
|}

==Honours==
[[File:Tony Adams Statue - front (cropped).jpg|thumb|Adams statue outside Arsenal's [[Emirates Stadium]]]]

'''Arsenal'''<ref name="EFO" />
* [[Football League First Division]]: [[1988–89 Football League First Division|1988–89]], [[1990–91 Football League First Division|1990–91]]
* [[Premier League]]: [[1997–98 FA Premier League|1997–98]], [[2001–02 FA Premier League|2001–02]]
* [[FA Cup]]: [[1992–93 FA Cup|1992–93]], [[1997–98 FA Cup|1997–98]], [[2001–02 FA Cup|2001–02]]
* [[Football League Cup]]: [[1986–87 Football League Cup|1986–87]], [[1992–93 Football League Cup|1992–93]]
* [[FA Charity Shield]]: [[1991 FA Charity Shield|1991]] (shared), [[1998 FA Charity Shield|1998]]
* [[Football League Centenary Trophy]]: 1988<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pye |first=Steven |date=4 January 2017 |title=How Arsenal won the Centenary Trophy, the least celebrated title in their history |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2017/jan/04/arsenal-centenary-trophy-title-football-league-history |access-date=27 March 2024 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>
* [[European Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1993–94 European Cup Winners' Cup|1993–94]]

'''Individual'''
* [[English Football Hall of Fame]]: 2004<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tony Adams Hall of Fame profile |url=https://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/tony-adams/ |access-date=27 March 2024 |publisher=National Football Museum}}</ref>
* [[Premier League Hall of Fame]]: 2023<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 May 2023 |title=Rio Ferdinand, Petr Cech and Tony Adams inducted into Premier League Hall of Fame |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65469143 |access-date=27 March 2024 |website=BBC Sport |publisher=}}</ref>
* [[Football League 100 Legends]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 August 1998 |title=Football Legends list in full |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/144986.stm |access-date=27 March 2024 |website=BBC Sport |publisher=}}</ref>
* [[PFA Young Player of the Year]]: [[1986–87 in English football|1986–87]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Keogh |first=Frank |date=20 April 2001 |title=Too much too young? |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1287799.stm |access-date=7 July 2017 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=}}</ref>
* [[PFA Team of the Year|PFA First Division/Premier League Team of the Year]]: [[PFA Team of the Year (1980s)#First Division 8|1986–87]], [[PFA Team of the Year (1990s)#FA Premier League 2|1993–94]], [[PFA Team of the Year (1990s)#FA Premier League 4|1995–96]], [[PFA Team of the Year (1990s)#FA Premier League 5|1996–97]]<ref name="EFO">{{cite news |title=England Players – Tony Adams 1988 |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersA/BioAdamsTA.html |access-date=27 March 2024 |work=englandfootballonline.com |publisher=}}</ref>
*[[Ballon d'Or]] nominated: [[1998 Ballon d'Or|1998]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierrend |first=José |date=26 March 2005 |title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1998 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy98.html |access-date=13 February 2025 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref>
* [[Premier League 10 Seasons Awards]]: (1992–93 to 2001–02)<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |date=14 April 2003 |title=Owen miss nets award |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2399669/Owen-miss-nets-award.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2399669/Owen-miss-nets-award.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |access-date=7 July 2017 |newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
** Domestic Team of the Decade
** Overall Team of the Decade
* [[Premier League 20 Seasons Awards]]: (1992–93 to 2011–12)<ref name="Sky">{{cite news |date=15 May 2012 |title=Fergie & Giggs honoured |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/7758225/fergie-giggs-honoured |access-date=7 July 2017 |work=Sky Sports |publisher=}}</ref>
** Public choice Fantasy Teams of the 20 Seasons
** Panel choice Fantasy Teams of the 20 Seasons
*[[FWA Tribute Award]]: [[2002–03 in English football|2002–03]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 January 2003 |title=FWA Tribute to Tony Adams a Success |url=https://footballwriters.co.uk/news/fwa-tribute-to-tony-adams-a-success/ |access-date=27 March 2024 |publisher=Football Writers' Association}}</ref>
*[[Arsenal Player of the Season]]: [[1986–87 Arsenal F.C. season|1986−87]], [[1989–90 Arsenal F.C. season|1989−90]], [[1993–94 Arsenal F.C. season|1993−94]]<ref>Maidment (2008), p. 148.</ref>

'''Orders'''
* [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]]: [[1999 Birthday Honours|1999]]<ref>{{cite news |title= Adams seals recovery with a gong|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/jun/12/newsstory.sport2|first=Jon|last=Brodkin|work=The Guardian|date=12 June 1999|access-date=7 July 2017}}</ref>

== Publications ==

* {{Cite book |last1=Adams |first1=Tony |title=Addicted |last2=Ridley |first2=Ian |publisher=CollinsWillow |year=1999 |isbn=978-0002187954 |location=London |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Adams |first1=Tony |title=Sober: Football. My Story. My Life |last2=Ridley |first2=Ian |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-4711-5674-8 |location=London |language=en |author-mask1=5 |author-mask2=5}}

==See also==
*[[List of England national football team captains]]
*[[List of footballers in England by number of league appearances]]
*[[List of Arsenal F.C. players]]
*[[List of Portsmouth F.C. managers]]
*[[List of Wycombe Wanderers F.C. managers]]
*[[List of one-club men in association football|List of one-club men]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

=== Sources ===

* {{Cite book |last1=James |first1=Josh |title=Arsenal: The Complete Record |last2=Andrews |first2=Mark |last3=Kelly |first3=Andy |date=15 October 2018 |publisher=deCoubertin Books |isbn=978-1-909245-75-4 |location=Liverpool |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Maidment |first1=Jem |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarsenale0000maid |title=The Official Arsenal Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive A-Z of London's Most Successful Club |date=2008 |publisher=Hamlyn |isbn=978-0-600-61888-1 |edition=revised |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{Official website |https://www.tonyadamsofficial.com/}}
*{{FIFA player|44996|Tony Adams}}
*{{Soccerbase}}
*{{soccerbase (manager)|id=1885|name=Tony Adams}}
*{{Englandstats}}

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{{England squad UEFA Euro 1988}}
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{{England squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
{{England squad UEFA Euro 2000}}
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| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{1986–87 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1993–94 Premier League Team of the Year}}
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{{1996–97 Premier League Team of the Year}}
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{{PFA Young Player of the Year}}
{{FWA Tribute Award}}
{{Football League 100 Legends}}
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Premier League Hall of Fame}}
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{{Wycombe Wanderers F.C. managers}}
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Tony}}
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