‘I’m an Arsenal icon – I twice snubbed Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man Utd to remain put’
It takes a lot of resolve to reject Sir Alex Ferguson just once – but Arsenal legend Tony Adams managed the feat on two occasions.
Manchester United targeted the Gunners’ two-time Premier League champion when he was tearing up trees at Highbury. However, Adams remained to make a total of 672 appearances for the North Londoners and won four top-flight titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups, and a European Cup Winners’ Cup.
And Old Trafford icon Ferguson would have loved nothing more than steal a key asset from one of his arch rivals. Recruiting from direct opposition was common practice for the Scot, but Adams snubbed the chance to join United’s cause and wrote his name into Arsenal history.
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Adams once wrote in his autobiography, ‘SOBER: Football. My Story. My Life’ (via The Mirror): “Manchester United twice tried to sign me but I turned them down both times because I was Arsenal through and through. The first time was after we had won the title in 1991.
“It was at an England get-together and Bryan Robson spoke to me about it, perhaps having been asked by Sir Alex Ferguson to have a quiet word. Tapping up? Of course, and anyone who doesn’t think it goes on in the game informally all the time is being naive.”
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(Image: Getty Images)
Tony Adams joined Arsenal’s academy in his early teenage years, and his loyalty to the Gunners was rock-solid.
“The second United approach came in ’96, in the autumn just five weeks after I had stopped drinking and in that period of uncertainty when Arsene Wenger was taking over from the sacked Bruce Rioch,” he continued. “I guess Sir Alex might also have wanted me because, as well as feeling he might be strengthening United, he might be weakening Arsenal.”
(Image: Getty Images)
It took another two decades before Fergie managed to nick one of Arsenal’s crown jewels. Robin van Persie left behind eight mostly trophy-less years at Arsenal for United in 2012, snagging the Premier League title in his debut season with the Red Devils.
Alexis Sanchez made the same switch in 2018, but didn’t quite hit the jackpot like RVP. As for Adams, he’s part of an increasingly rare club of one-team wonders at the pinnacle of football.
(Image: Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Despite spending the last decade of his career without securing any more significant titles, it’s uncertain what Adams could have achieved had he transferred to Manchester. However, Adams could retire with pride after maintaining his dignity throughout his career.
