Charlie Adam: It was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to be a manager

Former Liverpool, Rangers, Blackpool and Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam has told William Hill about his plans to join the managers ranks in the future.

Speaking to William Hill at the Football Writers’ Association Awards, Adam said: “It was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to be a manager and I was lucky enough to get the opportunity at Burnley to help coach with the U23s and also look after the loan players. You hope that the lads take on board the experience that you had. It’s been a great learning curve for me working with players day in day out, totally different from playing but it’s something I relish, and I hope that my experiences that I’ve had over my career can help them going forward.

“Being on the grass every day is getting me to a point where I can eventually become a manager in my own right, that’ll be a few years down the line, but I’m looking forward to getting on the grass regularly and being with the U21s.”

Events like the FWA Awards offer a chance to learn from the best, as Adam explained: “When you get an opportunity to come to these events it’s good to be with top people. To see and get close to a lot of these people. Pep [Guardiola], Jurgen [Klopp] when he was here last year, meet them and pick their brains, it’s very hard to turn down.”

He went on to acknowledge the pressure that Klopp must be under at his former club, after a start to the season that has so far fallen well short of expectations.

“You know what it’s like – when you fall below a level that’s expected at Liverpool Football Club, the criticism and pressure comes from outside the club. You’ve got to stay calm, the belief is there – he’s a world class manager,” Adam said.

“Yes, it’s a little bit of a blip but there’s no doubt Liverpool can go on and win ten games in a row and get themselves back into the top four race. The title’s out of the way – City and Arsenal are way ahead at the moment, but top four is still there. They’ve still got quality players all over the pitch.”

However, the former midfielder, who won the League Cup with Liverpool in 2011-12, was under no illusions that trophies are a necessary currency at Anfield.

“If you’re Liverpool, it’s always a failure if you don’t win trophies. They’ve had a wonderful period of going out and winning trophies. As the season progresses your expectations will change, but at the moment whatever they’re still in they’ll be looking to win that.”