Charlie Adam announces retirement from football with emotional Instagram post

Former Scotland, Rangers and Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam has announced his retirement from football, 18 years after making his professional debut.

The 36-year-old has been without a club since leaving Dundee at the end of last season, and has now decided to draw a line under his time as a player.

Adam will now pursue a coaching career, having enjoyed his recent experiences on the training pitch.

The midfielder revealed his decision in an emotional post on Instagram, where he thanked fans of the eight professional clubs he played for.

“I feel now is the right time to announce my retirement as a player,” Adam wrote.

“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.”

Adam made his professional debut for Rangers against Livingston in 2004 and had loan spells at Ross County and at St Mirren, where he played a part in the Paisley side’s First Division title success.

After six years in the first team squad at Ibrox, where he won both domestic cups and was part of the squad that reached the UEFA Cup final, Adam moved to Blackpool.

Blackpool won the play-offs and promotion to the top-flight during the midfielder’s time at the Seasiders, and his performances earned him a move to Liverpool. Adam picked up a League Cup winners’ medal in his time at Anfield but only spent a season with the Reds before a move to Stoke City.

He spent seven years with Stoke and had a season with Reading before returning to Scotland to join boyhood club Dundee. Adam starred in the Championship and was a key figure as the team won promotion to the Premiership.

The Dens Park side were relegated last season and after talks with the club hierarchy, Adam left at the end of his contract.

At the time, he said: “It was always my dream to play for my home town club and the last two years at Dundee FC have been really special for me and my family.

“To captain the club and lead the team to promotion is something I’ll always treasure and one of the highlights of my career.”