Premier League - Adams appointed Portsmouth manager

Eurosport - Tue, 28 Oct 21:38:00 2008

Tony Adams has been confirmed as the new manager of Portsmouth, three days after the departure of Harry Redknapp to Tottenham Hotspur.

2008 Portsmouth Tony Adams - 0

The 42-year-old Adams served as an assistant to Redknapp, who was back in Portsmouth on Tuesday to receive the freedom of the city.

Adams was told on Monday night that he would be given the job and take charge for Wednesday's Premier League meeting with Liverpool.

The former Arsenal captain signed a two-and-a-half year contract until the end of the 2010/11 season.

He said: "It's a great opportunity and one I'd be mad to turn down. I'm very excited, I can't wait to get going.

"I've been here for two-and-a-half years so it was business as usual this morning, except Harry's charm and fun was gone.

"I've got some great players at Portsmouth and I have been kind of responsible as well for helping Harry to bring them to the club.

"I was at home thinking, 'I don't want anyone else to get this job'."

Adams conceded he might come under pressure from Redknapp's Tottenham to sell players such as Jermain Defoe and Lassana Diarra, but pledged: "I'll fight him!

"That's why they are here - they're good players and he'll probably want them.

"We've got some very good players here at the club so I'm delighted that other clubs want them. But it's my job to keep them here."

Adams also said he had spoken to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger before accepting his first Premier League management job.

"I spoke to Arsene [Wenger] last night for some advice, and he said, 'Welcome to hell!'"

Adams did not confirm the imminent appointment of his former Arsenal team-mate Martin Keown as assistant manager, saying he intended to take his time.

Joe Jordan and Paul Groves remain part of the coaching set-up.

Chairman Peter Storrie refused to answer questions about the club's uncertain finances, describing them as "a boring, boring subject".

Tony Adams Factfile

1966: Born Romford, Essex, October 10.

1983: Makes Arsenal debut aged 17.

1984: Signed as full professional by Arsenal in January after completing apprenticeship.

1985: Makes first of five appearances for England Under-21s (had previously played at schools and youth level).

1987: Wins first of 66 England caps (13 as captain) in 4-2 victory over Spain in Madrid in February. Member of Arsenal's Littlewoods Cup-winning side as Liverpool are beaten 2-1 in final at Wembley.

1988: Becomes youngest-ever Arsenal captain.

1989: Leads Arsenal to their first league title for 18 years.

1990: Not selected for England's World Cup final bid in Italy, which ends with semi-final defeat to Germany in Turin. Jailed for four months after admitting drink-driving offences in December. Serves two months of sentence.

1991: After coming out of jail, returns to Arsenal side which wins championship for second time in three seasons.

1993: Helps Arsenal lift Coca-Cola Cup and FA Cup with Wembley wins over Sheffield Wednesday in both competitions. Back in England side for first time since jail sentence as England slump 2-0 to Norway in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo in June.

1994: Member of Arsenal side which lifts European Cup Winners' Cup, beating Parma 1-0 in final in Copenhagen.

1995: European misery as Arsenal slump 2-1 to Real Zaragoza in Cup Winners' Cup final in Paris.

1996: Overcomes knee injury to figure in all five of England's Euro 96 matches in a campaign which again ends in a semi-final defeat on penalties to Germany. Reports that Adams is seeking a divorce after his wife Jane is treated for drug addiction are followed by his own admission of alcoholism.

1997: Helps England draw 0-0 with Italy in Rome's Olympic Stadium to qualify for France 98.

1998: Helps lead Arsenal to the league and FA Cup double.

Wins his 50th cap for England but suffers huge disappointment when Glenn Hoddle's men lose to Argentina on penalties and are knocked out of the World Cup.

1999: Part of the England team that qualifies for Euro 2000.

2000: Arsenal lose to Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup final.

Named as England captain following Alan Shearer's decision to retire from the international scene.

Skippers England against Germany in opening World Cup qualifier the last England international at Wembley before its redevelopment. England lose 1-0 and Keegan quits as coach after the game.

2001: Adams announces that he intends to quit international football in order to prolong his playing career.

2002: Plays just 13 league and cup games during the 2001/2002 season due to injury, but does play in the 2-0 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea as the Gunners complete the double.

In August, ends speculation over his future by revealing he is to take a break from football in order to take a three-year course in sports science.

Reveals he has had several offers to go into management but turnedthem down because of his "lack of preparation".

2003: January 15 - Denied the chance to take his first step into coaching as soccer consultant with Dr Marten's League side Weymouth after consortium he was linked with had their bid for the club rejected.

November 5 - Appointed manager of League One Wycombe.

2004: May - After just six league wins all season, Wycombe finish bottom and are relegated to League Two.

November 9 - Resigns as manager citing personal reasons.

2005: July - Takes up training coaching role with Feyenoord's youth side in Holland.

2006: January -

Becomes trainee coach with Utrecht first team.

June 28 - Appointed assistant manager to Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth.

2008: October 25 - Becomes caretaker manager following Redknapp's departure for Tottenham.

October 28 - Confirmed as Portsmouth manager.

Alex Chick and Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 70 - 89 of 89

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  1. Nuke Portsmouth that what I say. harry shoulda stayed­ and we could nuke him as well. Slippery 'arry dun a­ bunk ffrom town full of filth and scum! We hate Pompey­ and we hate Pompey....

    From McCauley Culkin, on Tue 28 Oct 10:10PM

  2. I think it is going to go well with harry Rednap as the­ manager.
    I would like totenham and newcastle to stay in­ the premier legaue.

    From qekrezi, on Tue 28 Oct 9:45PM

  3. Harry was always looking over his shoulder, knowing it­ was only a matter of time before Tony took over. I­ suspect that like Gordon Brown, there were promises­ made !
    He is a proud man though, Harry, likes to jump­ before pushed, unlike Mr. Blair !! I accept it looks­ like a dream job to crown his career but I would bet a­ lot of money that Redknapp is now in way out of his­ depth.

    From viki_tothova, on Tue 28 Oct 7:47PM

  4. i reckon its all gonna go well 4 tony and wen wenger­ leaves arsenal hell be there in a heart beat

    From Samuel, on Tue 28 Oct 7:38PM

  5. lets see what he`s got up his sleeve, a few matches­ will surely beam to his potential as a good coach to­ reckon with......

    From segun, on Tue 28 Oct 6:28PM

  6. Do us proud Tony. It won't be the same without­ Harry but I hope your success will usher in a new era­ or a continuance of Pompey's recent­ success.
    I'm from Portsmouth, always went to what­ matches I could attend, since the sixties. Now I'm­ in Florida but will always be a Pompey fan.

    From Christopher P, on Tue 28 Oct 6:08PM

  7. WHAT A HELL OF A NOISE IS POMPEY FANS­ MAKING?
    AFTERALL,WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS ALSO­ GOOD FOR THE GANDER!
    I WISH HARRY WELL AFTER WEDNESDAY­ AGAINST ARSENAL...

    From Olugbayi, on Tue 28 Oct 6:08PM

  8. stick with us Tony. I'm sure you will be a success.

    From dmthomas1, on Tue 28 Oct 5:08PM

  9. The very best of luck Tony,your 'goona' need­ it!

    From ANDREW G, on Tue 28 Oct 4:49PM

  10. IT SEEMS POMPEY FANS COMMENTS ARE ALL INVALID ON HERE­ SUPRISE SUPRISE

    From KEN C, on Tue 28 Oct 4:45PM

  11. Lets hope he's a better manager than TV pundit.­ Only Ray Wilkins is possibly more boring (yawn). Great­ player but that doesn't always mean good manager­ (Brian Robson). Good luck you'll need it after a­ top class manager like Redknapp.

    From Steve, on Tue 28 Oct 4:36PM

  12. Great appointment (and a cheap one i should think). One­ things for sure he should get the defence sorted (he­ didnt at city though)If Adams does a good job for­ Pompey over the next few years he will also go as­ Arsenal will be calling!!!

    From csarsfield, on Tue 28 Oct 4:19PM

  13. 1. Southampton will never come back up. They are not­ good enough.
    2. Pompey will not go down at the end of­ the season. They are too good.
    3. Redknapp is a­ mercenery, but so what, who isnt these days.
    4. Adams­ deserves his chance. He is a top bloke and if he makes­ a mess of it, Curbishly will step in. I dont think he­ will have to though. Adams has a good squad and most­ importantly, he has the respect of the players.
    5.­ Adams had a drinking problem, and he was a big enough­ man to admit that and get help. He no longer has a­ problem, because he was a man about it, which is more­ than I can say for the users making snide comments­ about something they no nothing about.

    From stee_monkey2000, on Tue 28 Oct 4:09PM

  14. he's @#$%

    From ashley.follett_9t7, on Tue 28 Oct 4:09PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    as i sung earlier, BYE BYE POMPEY.....POMPEY BYE BYE HA­ HA HA!!! YOUR SH..T AND YOU KNOW YOU ARE YOUR SH..T AND­ YOU KNOW YOU ARE!!!

    From michaelmarshall1966, on Tue 28 Oct 3:59PM

  16. Shame on portsmouth fans for their abuse of Redknapp in­ today's parade; you lot really have no class do you­ and very, very short memories. Hopefully, and sometime­ real soon, you will get what you and your small club­ deserves, and that is relegation.

    From cameron w, on Tue 28 Oct 3:56PM

  17. i hope he can make pompey more­ strong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From gune_sim, on Tue 28 Oct 3:56PM

  18. I can't help thinking this appointment will end in­ tears for both parties. Adams appears to be a good­ coach but does he have it in him to be a good manager. ­ I hope he does as the game would be very empty without­ such characters. Well done to Pompey for making a­ brave decision. But will they give Adams the time to­ succeed? Glad Allardyce was not given the chance to­ turn Pompey into a team of robots.

    From Allen H, on Tue 28 Oct 3:55PM

  19. GOOD LIUCK TONI YOU WILL NEED IT. 3.0 TO LIVERPOOL­ TONITE, FIRST GAME IN CHARGE YOU WILL LOSE IT THEN ITS­ DOWNHILL FROM THERE, POMPEY WILL BE IN THE BOTTOM 3 AT­ XMAS. RELEGATED BY MAY, PLAYING AGAINST SOUTHAMPTON.­ DOES ANYONE FANCY A BET.

    From mgachristian01, on Tue 28 Oct 3:53PM

  20. bye bye pompey.....pompey bye bye!

    From michaelmarshall1966, on Tue 28 Oct 3:52PM
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