The 5 greatest captains in the Premier League era

#4 Tony Adams

Tony Adams is the most successful captain in Arsenal history

When you think of the stereotypical football captain – chest-beating, bellowing at his teammates and willing to run through brick walls for his team – the first man that comes to mind in the Premier League era has to be Arsenal’s Tony Adams.

He spent his entire 22-year career playing at centre-back for the Gunners and despite retiring at the end of the 2001/02 season, it could be argued that they’ve never truly replaced him.

Adams became captain of Arsenal long before the dawn of the Premier League era – he was named captain by George Graham in January 1988, when he was still just 21 years old, and he remained in the role for the next 14 years until his retirement.

During that time he won four league titles (two Premier Leagues), three FA Cups and the European Cup Winners Cup in 1994.

Arguably his most impressive feat? Being able to adapt to a new era in football, when manager Arsene Wenger took control of Arsenal in late 1996.

Adams had been used to an old-school approach and had faced a battle with alcoholism, but when Wenger took over and began to change things – introducing a new dietary and lifestyle regime – Adams made the needed changes and remained captain.

One season later he led Arsenal to their first Premier League trophy, memorably scoring the Gunners’ final goal in their title-winning match against Everton.

By the time his career ended, Adams had made 674 appearances for Arsenal and had become the club’s most successful captain.

In 2011, to commemorate the club’s 125th anniversary, a statue of Adams was erected outside the Emirates Stadium – a fitting tribute to one of the greatest captains of the Premier League era.