Former Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam has announced his retirement from football aged 36.
A youth academy graduate at Dundee, Adam signed for Rangers at U20 level and made 80 appearances for the Ibrox side before heading south to Blackpool. He captained the Seasiders to promotion to the Premier League and, with his fierce record from free-kicks and penalties, earned a move to Liverpool in 2011. He went on to play for Stoke City and Reading before returning north to Dundee in 2020.
He helped his boyhood team back into the Premiership and made 33 appearances for them last season but opted to leave after their relegation to the Championship. And having not found a new club with seven games played of the SPFL season, he has announced his decision to retire with an emotional Instagram post.
"I feel now is the right time to announce my retirement as a player. I’ve been lucky enough to play for some of the biggest clubs in the world, from Champions League nights at Ibrox for Rangers, winning promotion into the Premier League as Blackpool captain, pulling on the famous Liverpool shirt and scoring in front of The Kop, eight incredible seasons at Stoke City to guiding my boyhood club to promotion and playing 26 times for Scotland - It’s not been a bad ride.
"A huge thank you goes to Glasgow Rangers, Ross County, St Mirren, Blackpool, Liverpool, Stoke City, Reading and Dundee’s supporters - hopefully I’ve gave you all some memorable moments along the way. For now it’s time for me to move into coaching, something I feel incredibly passionate about and have been enjoying for the last few months.
"I’d like to thank my parents, my sister and brothers, my wife Sophie, children Jack, Anabella and Louis and all my family and friends for their support over the last 20 years - couldn’t have done any of it without you. It’s been a pleasure."
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