the european championship in 1996 was meant to be a triumphal for the host country England. ‘Football is coming home’ song to all englishmen, and hoped that the 30-year-old WORLD cup-title – also won on their home ground – would no longer be the nation’s only.
the Team captain was Tony Adams – Arsenal’s long-standing captain and forsvarsklippe. He played a distinguished finals, which ended abruptly for England, as the relatively newly minted midfielder Gareth Southgate abused penalty number six in the semifinals against Germany.
A bet for England and for Adams, who subsequently did what he used back then: Washed the disappointment away with a bender.
What had he done in 13 years, since he as insecure teen came in around Arsenal’s first team. But in 1996 it began to take hard, on the 29-year-old forsvarsgeneral.
– right up to the time I did not think I would be 30. I thought I would die the way I lived my life. I didn’t know how I would live, but I was afraid to commit suicide. I found myself in a limbo, says Tony Adams today to The Telegraph.
the Alcohol had already then sent him 58 days behind bars in Chelmsford prison, and his first marriage was shipwrecked. Therefore he took after a summer vacation a decision.
he did, precisely, Friday 16. august 1996 – at 17, to be precise. Since that time, Tony Adams has not touched alcohol.
His career blossomed in the years following – not least thanks to Arsenal’s new manager, Arsène Wenger, who helped keep Adams on the path of virtue and narrow path.
Tony Adams has celebrated many triumphs with Arsenal. He has won a total of ten titles including four English championships. Photo: Ian Waldie/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix
today, he is not tempted to take a drink. Not at all, for he knows what it leads to.
– I can rewind the process forward, for I know to the disease. Perhaps I can take a drink and think, ‘uh, I got away with it’. But along the way I would end up being full again, says Tony Adams, and comes with an example of a day as an alcoholic:
– When I drank, I could fucking down at myself, take the pants back on and leave the pub. It was crazy. It reminds me of what awaits me.
In the time ago stopped to be active in 2002, Adams has been manager. First, in Wycombe, then in Portsmouth and, subsequently, with a few detours to Gabala in Azerbaijan for the national team in Granada.
today he runs the charity Sporting Chance, which helps athletes like himself was in trouble with addiction.
And that is enough to take hold of. Adams even mentions his former team-mates Paul Merson, Kenny Sansom and Paul Gascoigne. None of them have come out of addiction, but according to Adams, they will have help. They have chosen dependency.
Adams knows what it takes to come out on the other side. It is not easy, but in fact can athletes use the spirit of their active career as a weapon.
– the Idea of giving up is really far for a sportsman who will win at any cost. As soon as you put all the energy you are using to take drugs or drink, so you can suddenly do it, says the now 52-year-old Arsenal legend.
He was 19 seasons at the club and is listed for 669 matches – but after the summer change he sport. Here he is honorary president of the Rugby Football League and thus to promote the rugby sport.
It can already be said to have made, for through the Sporting Chance, Tony Adams, has already helped more than 400 rugbyspillere with addiction.
