Adams: Michael Richard (Micky)

1987-1989 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

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Born: Sheffield: 08-11-1961

Debut: v Blackburn Rovers (h): 24-01-1987

5’7” 10st. 10lb (1987)

After playing for Sheffield Boys and signing for Sheffield United on schoolboy forms, he started as an apprentice with Gillingham, turning professional in 1979 and winning England Youth honours. He was bought by Coventry City for £75,000 in July 1983, after making eighty-five starts and seven substitute League appearances for the Gills, in which he scored five goals. He also made a further eleven appearances in Cup competitions while at Priestfield Stadium. He made a similar eighty-five League appearances at Highfield Road with a further five games from the bench and scored nine goals, while in Cup competitions he scored once in eighteen starts. He moved to Leeds for £110,000 in January 1987. Within ten weeks he was playing against his old team in the F.A. Cup Semi-Final at Hillsborough. Adams found favour with the Leeds fans as he swept United to victory against Wigan Athletic, when he scored with a long range shot. While equally adept on the left wing, he operated primarily at left back until moving to Southampton on 14th March 1989 for £250,000. He made his debut for the Saints in a 1-3 home defeat by Arsenal on 25th March 1989. It didn't really establish himself in the first team until the 1990-91, due to a mixture of injuries and loss of form. He scored seven goals in one hundred and forty-one League starts and three games as a substitute, as well as another thirty games in the Cups and other games, before he left Southampton for Stoke City on 24th March 1994, on a free transfer. His stay there was a brief four months, in which he scored three times in ten League games, before joining Fulham on 14th July 1994 as Player-Coach. In February 1996, he became Player-Manager, being the youngest Manager in the League. He didn't hang up his boots, but used himself sparingly, scoring eight times in twenty-nine League games, which included four from the bench, and scored a further five goals in eight Cup and other games. With the advent of Mohammed Al Fayed he was dismissed in favour of Kevin Keegan on 25th September 1997. He still kept his boots at the ready but didn't get to use them on his brief sojourn at Swansea City from 9th October to 22nd October 1997 and when he was at Brentford he did play either. After he had left Fulham, his managerial talents were a little wasted at Swansea City and his stay at Griffin Park lasted only from 5th November 1997 to 1st July 1998. He was temporarily in charge at Nottingham Forest from 5th January to 11th January 1999, after first serving as Dave Bassett's Assistant but then short-term caretaker-Manager, before moving to Brighton on 12th April 1999. The club were in the bottom League Three and in severe financial trouble, but with good management and judicial buying and selling of players he was able to take the club to the League Three championship in 2000-01. He was there until 10th October 2001, by which time he had already set the basis for the club to win their second promotion as the League Two Champions in 2001-02. He left Brighton to further his ambition with a bigger club and joined Leicester City as Dave Bassett's Assistant. He became the Leicester City Manager on 7th April 2002 as Leicester were relegated from the EPL. He steered the Foxes to a quick return as Runners-Up in Division One to Portsmouth in 2002-03 and he was rewarded with a new three year contract. The club was beset by financial problems and were ultimately relegated at the end of the 2003-04 season. They had a poor start to the 2003-04 season and Adams resigned on 11th October 2004. He took over at struggling Coca-Cola Championship Coventry City on 23rd January 2005, and managed to turn their season around and save them from relegation. There was some bright form which gave aspirations of promotion but they were a false dawn and after failing to live up to his high expectations Adams left on 17th January 2007, vowing to return to top flight management. In July 2007, Adams was appointed by Colchester United as assistant manager to Geraint Williams, replacing Mick Harford He subsequently left this role in January 2008, stating that he wanted to return to management. He returned to again became Manager of Brighton on 8th May 2008, but On 21st February 2009, Adams left the club by mutual consent. He was not out of work for long joining Port Vale on 5th June 2009 and once more he showed he could manage on a shoe-string and yet miraculously keep the club on the fringe of promotion. On 30th December 2010, following Gary Speed's departure from the job as manager of Sheffield United for the position as the head coach of Wales, Adams was installed as Manager of Sheffield United. His main aim was to save the club from relegation. Despite obtaining a few good results on the run-in Sheffield United were relegated to League One at the end of the season, six points short of safety. Adams left the club on 12th May 2011. Almost immediately he was offered the Manager's job at former club Port Vale and vowed to finish the job he had started.