Micky Adams

Early career

Adams was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, and was an associate schoolboy with Sheffield United from the age of twelve, where his boyhood idol was Tony Currie. He was a favourite of manager Jimmy Sirrel. However, Adams was released from the youth team set-up a few months after Harry Haslam replaced Sirrel as manager in September 1977.

Gillingham

United's youth team coach John Short also left the club and became a coach at Gillingham, and so Adams then travelled 240 miles (390 km) out from home to join Gillingham as an apprentice in August 1978. During his time as an apprentice he won four caps for the England youth team, and competed in a tournament in Yugoslavia. He went on to sign as a professional at Gillingham in November 1979. Due to his natural pace, Adams started his playing career as a left-winger before manager Keith Peacock converted him into a left-back after he was found to lack the technical skill necessary to beat opponents. Coming through the club's ranks at the same time as Steve Bruce, Adams later cited Buster Collins as a major influence upon his career. In 1982–83 he was named in the PFA's Third Division Team of the Year.

Coventry City and Leeds United

After 103 appearances for Third Division Gillingham he moved on to top-flight Coventry City in 1983 for a fee approaching £85,000. He struggled with injury during his time at Highfield Road, and was never popular with the fans. Keith Houchen also recalled that he did…

Before going into management, the "straight-talking Yorkshireman" had already demonstrated his ability to spot talented youngsters. Around 1994, he spotted Wayne Bridge playing for Olivers Battery; he recommended Bridge to Southampton, who then signed him as a trainee in July 1996.

Fulham

Having successfully coached Fulham's reserve team in the Capital League, Adams moved into management, taking over from Ian Branfoot in March 1996 with the London club languishing in 91st place in the league pyramid. After he had helped the club avoid non-League football, Fulham were promoted to Division Two as runners-up in the following season's final table, and Adams was given the Third Division Manager of the Season award. He built his side on free transfers and small fees, installing belief and self-confidence in the players at his disposal rather than spending big money. The highest fee he spent on a player during his reign was £200,000 for former "Saints" teammate Paul Moody. Following Mohamed Al-Fayed's takeover of Fulham, Adams was dismissed as manager in September 1997 in favour of the higher profile combination of Kevin Keegan (director of football) and Ray Wilkins (head coach).

"I have to say that it was probably the right decision because look where they are now. All Mr Fayed has to say is 'there's my record'. At the time getting rid of me was a harsh decision. A director at the club told me I was going to be the Alex Ferguson of Fulham. I signed a five-year…

Adams was seen as an 'old-school' manager due to his emphasis on fitness – particularly gruelling pre-season running sessions – and straightforward tactics, expecting his players to outrun and out-battle the opposition.

His mother was a cook and his father was a steelworker. He grew up with two sisters and one brother; His brother has cerebral palsy. He is an ambassador for the charity Baby Lifeline. He has three daughters from his first marriage to Amanda; the marriage broke down during his time at Fulham due partly to the amount of time he put into his football career. He later married Claire, with whom he had a son, Mitchel, born in 2001, and a daughter, Madison, born in 2004. Adams made an appearance on BBC Radio Leicester in August 2004, choosing some of his favourite music including songs from Nat King Cole, Billy Joel, The Style Council, and INXS. He released his autobiography, Micky Adams – My Life In Football in September 2017.