Sober : Football. My Story. My Life. (Paperback)

This Sunday Times bestselling follow-up to Addicted from English soccer legend Tony Adams is “a searingly honest account of the Arsenal legend’s quest to recover from alcoholism. Unflinchingly brave.” (Sunday Mirror).

A charismatic figure on the soccer field, Tony Adams was a true leader for team Arsenal and England. He won league titles over three separate decades, and after the Gunners moved to their new stadium at the Emirates, it was fitting that a statue of him was placed outside to celebrate his extraordinary career. But, for much of that time, Adams was drinking heavily and ultimately revealed in his book Addicted that he suffered from alcoholism.

Now, in this stunning follow-up, Adams shares what happened next. He discusses the impact that Arsene Wenger had when he arrived at Arsenal in 1996, and how the manager’s new methods helped extend his career and brought new success to the club. Having a strong mental game in addition to his athletic skills, Adams moved into coaching and management on retirement, playing a key role in Portsmouth’s famous FA Cup triumph in 2008, and taking on new challenges in the Netherlands, Azerbaijan, China, and Spain.

Adams reveals his rocky journey to stay sober for twenty years and why he set up Sporting Chance, the charity which provides treatment and support for sports stars suffering from addictions. He shares his insights on England’s continued struggle to win major tournaments and assesses why Arsenal has not been able to repeat the title-winning formula while he was there.

Honest, powerful, and compelling, Sober is a truly inspirational memoir from someone who has battled and overcome his demons—but continues his recovery, one day at a time.