Arsenal football club have a history that would make almost any other team on the planet blush – as such, they also have a wide array of beloved club icons and legendary figures.

Today, we’ll be taking a look back at one of the most well-cherished Arsenal players of all time – none other than the Gunners’ greatest-ever captain, Tony Adams.

We’ll be doing a deep dive on Adams’ career at Arsenal – from his humble beginnings as a fledgling defender to the monolithic colossus he would become.

Additionally, we’ll also take a look at Adams’ career after he left the Gunners – his foray into the world of management was interesting, to say the least.

Tony Adams’start at Arsenal

Born in Romford, Adams joined Arsenal’s academy in 1980, when he was just 14 years of age. Progressing swiftly through the ranks, he made his first-team debut at the age of 16.

In the 1986/87 season, Adams won his first trophy as an Arsenal player, when the Gunners collected the League Cup by defeating Liverpool in the final.

In 1988, Adams was handed captaincy of Arsenal at the age of just 21. He held onto the armband until his retirement from professional football, serving as captain of the Gunners for 14 years.

Arsenal captain

When Arsene Wenger became manager of Arsenal in 1996, questions were raised regarding Adams’ future. Wenger has since become famous for playing an attractive, passing style of play – a far cry from Adams’ no-nonsense preferences.

Nevertheless, amid a battle with alcoholism, the Romford native applied himself and adapted. Under the guidance of the Frenchman, Adams captained Arsenal to Premier League titles in 1997/98 and 2001/02.

Adams last game in professional football as a player came on a high note, as they defeated Chelsea in the final of the 2002 FA Cup. All in all, Adams played in 674 games for the Gunners, scoring 32 league goals along the way.

Currently, a statue of Tony Adams stands outside the Emirates Stadium. It was unveiled in 2011, alongside other murals of Thierry Henry and Herbert Chapman.

Adams’ managerial career after the Gunners

Following the end of his playing career, Adams was not content to rest on his laurels – in 2003, he accepted the role as manager at Wycombe Wanderers.

After a decent start with the Chairboys, his tenure with the club deteriorated quickly – they were relegated to League Two at the end of the season. After guiding the club to 17th place in England’s fourth tier, Adams was sacked.

His next role as a head coach, at Portsmouth, showed little signs of improvement. He joined Pompey in November 2008, but was relieved of his duties in February 2009 after winning just four games out of 22.

Adams’ last job as a manager, at Granada, was an unmitigated disaster. Of the seven games that he oversaw, Granada lost all seven – which condemned them to relegation from La Liga.

Sadly, Adams’ managerial career was not as successful as his playing career. His most successful stint as a head coach came at FK Qabala, where he accumulated a win percentage of 38.6%. Since leaving Granada, Adams has yet to take another job as a manager.