Charlie Adam facts for kids
Charles Graham Adam (born 10 December 1985) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently a set-piece coach at Everton. Before that, he was the manager of Fleetwood Town.
Adam started his career with Rangers. He spent time on loan at Ross County and St Mirren. While at St Mirren in the 2005–06 season, Adam helped the team win the Scottish Challenge Cup and the First Division. He played in over thirty matches for St Mirren. When he returned to Rangers, he became a regular player. Adam was also part of the Rangers team that reached the 2008 UEFA Cup Final.
After not playing as much for Rangers in 2008–09, Adam went on loan to Blackpool. This move became permanent in 2009–10. Adam became a key player for Blackpool, leading them as captain to a play-off victory over Cardiff City. This win promoted them to the Premier League. Adam played very well in his first Premier League season. He was even nominated for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in April 2011. However, Blackpool was relegated the next month, and he moved to Liverpool in July.
After one season at Anfield, Adam joined Stoke City in August 2012. He played for Stoke for seven seasons, making 179 appearances. Then he joined Reading in July 2019. Adam later returned to his childhood club Dundee in September 2020. He was their captain for two years and helped them get promoted to the Scottish Premiership.
Adam also played for Scotland at different levels. He played for the under-21, B, and senior national teams.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting at Rangers
Adam was part of the youth teams at Dundee and Rangers. He won the Scottish Youth Cup with Rangers in 2001–02. He made his first senior appearance for Rangers on 14 April 2004. This was in a game against Livingston. He played now and then for Rangers. He became a regular player when Paul Le Guen became manager.
Loan Spells and Success
In 2004–05, Adam joined Ross County on loan. He played fifteen games and scored two goals. He also played in the 2004 Scottish Challenge Cup Final. Ross County lost that final.
Adam then joined St Mirren on loan for the 2005–06 season. This time, he won the 2005 Scottish Challenge Cup Final with St Mirren. They beat Hamilton Academical 2–1. He also helped the team win the First Division title in May 2006. He played 37 games and scored nine goals for St Mirren.
Becoming a Regular at Rangers
After his loans, Adam returned to Rangers for the 2006–07 season. He became a regular starter. He scored his first goal for Rangers in a UEFA Cup win against Livorno. He scored fourteen goals that season. Rangers fans voted him the club's Young Player of the Year.
In June 2007, Adam signed a new five-year contract with Rangers. He scored his first UEFA Champions League goal against VfB Stuttgart. Adam played a part in Rangers reaching the 2008 UEFA Cup Final. Rangers lost 2–0 to Zenit Saint Petersburg in that final. That season, Rangers also won the 2007–08 Scottish League Cup and the 2007–08 Scottish Cup.
Blackpool Adventure
On 2 February 2009, Adam joined Blackpool on loan. This was until the end of the 2008–09 season. He was sent off in his first game for Blackpool. Adam scored his first goal for Blackpool in a 2–0 win over Norwich City. He scored again in a win against Preston North End.
In July 2009, Adam signed a permanent deal with Blackpool. This was a club-record transfer fee of £500,000. His first game as a permanent player was a 1–1 draw with Queens Park Rangers. His first goal came in a League Cup win against Wigan Athletic.
In January 2010, Adam was named in the Championship "Team of the Week". He also won the Championship Player of the Month award. In March, Adam scored in his 50th league game for Blackpool. He was named in the PFA "Championship Team of the Year".
Blackpool reached the play-offs that season. Adam scored a penalty against Nottingham Forest in the semi-final. In the play-off final, Adam scored a free-kick. Blackpool beat Cardiff City 3–2 at Wembley Stadium. This win promoted them to the Premier League.
In the 2010–11 Premier League season, Adam was named in the official Team of the Week multiple times. In January 2011, Blackpool turned down a £4.5 million offer from Liverpool for Adam. Blackpool also rejected a transfer request from Adam. He was one of seven players nominated for the 2010–11 PFA Players' Player of the Year award. However, Blackpool was relegated at the end of the season.
Time at Liverpool
In July 2011, Liverpool signed Adam from Blackpool for £6.75 million. He made his full debut for Liverpool on 13 August 2011. This was in a 1–1 draw against Sunderland. He helped Luis Suárez score the opening goal from a free kick.
On 27 August 2011, Adam scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool. This was in a 3–1 win against Bolton Wanderers. He helped Liverpool beat local rivals Everton 2–0. He also scored a penalty in a 2–0 win against West Bromwich Albion. Liverpool reached the 2012 Football League Cup Final. They beat Cardiff City in a penalty shootout, even though Adam missed his kick. They also reached the 2012 FA Cup Final, but Adam missed it due to injury.
Moving to Stoke City
On 31 August 2012, Adam signed a four-year contract with Stoke City. The fee was around £4 million. He made his debut for Stoke the next day in a 2–2 draw. Adam said he left Liverpool to play more games. He scored his first goal for Stoke in a 1–0 win against Queens Park Rangers. He scored again two weeks later against Fulham. Adam ended the 2012–13 season by being sent off against Tottenham Hotspur.
Adam scored Stoke's first goal of the 2013–14 season. This was in a 2–1 win against Crystal Palace. He scored a penalty in a 3–3 draw with Swansea City. He also scored in a 2–0 win against Sunderland. On 1 February 2014, Adam scored twice in a 2–1 win over Manchester United. This was Stoke's first league win against them since 1984. He was banned for three matches after an incident with Olivier Giroud. On 11 May 2014, Adam scored the winning goal against West Bromwich Albion. This helped Stoke finish 9th in the Premier League.
Adam scored his first goals of the 2014–15 season against Sunderland and Swansea City. On 4 April 2015, Adam scored a goal from 65 yards against Chelsea. He called it a "once in a lifetime goal". Adam scored four more goals in April and May. This included a goal in a 6–1 win against his former club Liverpool. Adam signed a new contract with Stoke on 20 June 2015.
Adam played 25 games in 2015–16, scoring once. He played 28 times in 2016–17, scoring one goal. Adam played less in 2017–18, making 14 appearances. Stoke was relegated to the EFL Championship that season. Adam missed a late penalty against Brighton & Hove Albion. He was also sent off against Everton.
Adam played less under Gary Rowett in 2018–19. He returned to the squad under Nathan Jones but got a calf injury. Adam left Stoke at the end of the season.
Reading and Return to Dundee
On 22 July 2019, Adam joined Reading, signing a one-year contract. He scored his first goal for Reading from a penalty. This was in a 3–0 win over Derby County. Adam was released by Reading at the end of the season.
On 15 September 2020, Adam joined his childhood club Dundee. He signed a two-year deal, calling it a "dream". Adam believed Dundee would be his final club.
Adam made his debut for Dundee on 10 October 2020. His first goal came in his first league game. He was made captain of Dundee. He won the SPFL's Championship Player of the Month for December. Adam was named to PFA Scotland's Championship Team of the Year for 2020–21. He also helped Dundee win the Premiership play-offs. This helped Dundee return to the Scottish Premiership. Adam said this was the highlight of his career. He was also named the SPFL Championship Player of the Year.
Adam got a groin injury in August 2021. He returned in October and was named Man of the Match in a win over Aberdeen. Adam scored impressive goals against Dundee United and Hibernian. The goal against Dundee United won Dundee's Goal of the Season. Adam left Dundee in May 2022.
On 21 September 2022, Adam announced he was retiring from professional football. He was 36 years old.
International Career
Adam was first called up to the Scotland squad on 11 May 2007. This was for a friendly against Austria and a Euro 2008 qualifying match. He made his debut on 30 May as a substitute in a 1–0 win. He made his first competitive appearance on 6 June.
Adam was called back to the Scotland squad in October 2009 for a friendly against Japan. He was also called up for a friendly against Wales in November 2009.
Post-Playing and Coaching Career
After retiring from playing, Adam started working as a loans manager at Burnley.
On 31 December 2023, Adam became the head coach of EFL League One club Fleetwood Town. Fleetwood was struggling at the time. Adam could not keep Fleetwood in the division, and they were relegated. On 22 December 2024, he was sacked after one win in 11 league games. On 23 January 2025, Adam was confirmed as the set-piece coach at Everton. He joined David Moyes's new coaching team.
Personal Life
Adam grew up supporting Dundee. He went to Braeview Academy in Dundee. His brother, Grant, is also a footballer.
Adam is married to Sophie Anderson. They have two sons, Jack and Louis, and a daughter, Anabella. He moved with his family to Glasgow after signing for Dundee.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rangers | 2003–04 | Scottish Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| 2004–05 | Scottish Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | Scottish Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | Scottish Premier League | 32 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | — | 43 | 14 | ||
| 2007–08 | Scottish Premier League | 16 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 2 | — | 32 | 4 | ||
| 2008–09 | Scottish Premier League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 61 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 5 | — | 88 | 18 | |||
| Ross County (loan) | 2004–05 | Scottish First Division | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 15 | 2 | |
| St Mirren (loan) | 2005–06 | Scottish First Division | 29 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | 37 | 9 | |
| Blackpool (loan) | 2008–09 | Championship | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 2 | ||
| Blackpool | 2009–10 | Championship | 43 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | 49 | 19 | |
| 2010–11 | Premier League | 35 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 36 | 13 | |||
| Total | 91 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | 98 | 34 | |||
| Liverpool | 2011–12 | Premier League | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 37 | 2 | |||
| Stoke City | 2012–13 | Premier League | 27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 3 | ||
| 2013–14 | Premier League | 31 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 8 | |||
| 2014–15 | Premier League | 29 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 7 | |||
| 2015–16 | Premier League | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 1 | |||
| 2016–17 | Premier League | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 1 | |||
| 2017–18 | Premier League | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | |||
| 2018–19 | Championship | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| Total | 156 | 19 | 10 | 2 | 13 | 0 | — | — | 179 | 21 | ||||
| Stoke City U23 | 2016–17 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||
| 2017–18 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||
| 2018–19 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | ||||||
| Reading | 2019–20 | Championship | 21 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 2 | ||
| Dundee | 2020–21 | Scottish Championship | 22 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | 32 | 7 | |
| 2021–22 | Scottish Premiership | 27 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 33 | 4 | |||
| Total | 49 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 | — | 4 | 1 | 65 | 11 | |||
| Career total | 446 | 80 | 28 | 6 | 37 | 4 | 21 | 5 | 20 | 5 | 552 | 100 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | |||
| 2007 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2008 | — | ||
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 26 | 0 | |
Managerial record
As of 22 December 2024
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Fleetwood Town | 31 December 2023 | 22 December 2024 | 49 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 28.57 | |
| Total | 49 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 28.57 | |||
Honours
Ross County
- Scottish Challenge Cup runner-up: 2004
St Mirren
- Scottish Football League First Division: 2005–06
- Scottish Challenge Cup: 2005–06
Rangers
- Scottish Cup: 2007–08
- Scottish League Cup: 2007–08
- UEFA Cup runner-up: 2007–08
Blackpool
- Football League Championship play-offs: 2010
Liverpool
- Football League Cup: 2011–12
Dundee FC
- Scottish Premiership play-offs: 2020–21
Individual
- Blackpool Player of the Season: 2009–10
- PFA Team of the Year: 2009–10 Championship
- Football League Championship Player of the Month: January 2010
- SPFL Scottish Championship Player of the Month: December 2020
- PFA Scotland Team of the Year: 2020–21 Scottish Championship
- SPFL Team of the Season: 2020–21 Scottish Championship
- SPFL Scottish Championship Player of the Year: 2020–21
See also
In Spanish: Charlie Adam para niños
