Legendary Arsenal captain Tony Adams has been named as the latest member of the Premier League Hall of Fame.
Adams was selected by supporters across the world through an online public vote and the Premier League Awards Panel.
It is the highest individual honour awarded by the League.
Adams joins Petr Cech and Rio Ferdinand in the Hall of Fame class of ’23, along with former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
See: Ferguson and Wenger join Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates individuals who have an exceptional record of success and have made a significant contribution to the Premier League since its inception in 1992.
Adams' career in numbers
| Category | Tony Adams |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 255 |
| Goals | 12 |
| Assists | 9 |
| Clean sheets | 115 |
| PL titles | 2 |
| Monthly awards | 0 |
Adams made his senior debut for the Gunners in 1983 and had already won two league titles, before the start of the Premier League.
He captained the side in the first 10 seasons of the Premier League, making 255 appearances at the heart of defence and securing 115 clean sheets in the process.
His ratio of shutting out the opposition in 48.5 per cent of matches in which he played 90 minutes is a record for players who have played 200 or more full matches.
"Every time I put that shirt on, I felt proud, and it forever holds a special place in my heart"
Adams helped Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 1997/98 under Wenger, sealing top spot with a memorable 89th-minute goal in a 4-0 win against Everton in May 1998.The win was part of a domestic Double for Arsenal, which also featured the FA Cup.
In his final season in 2001/02, Adams became a Premier League Champion again as the club completed another Double.
The ultimate one-club man, Adams remains the only player to captain a side to top-flight titles in three different decades and is immortalised in a statue outside Emirates Stadium.
“I loved being a footballer and I love Arsenal Football Club," said Adams. "Every time I put that shirt on, I felt proud, and it forever holds a special place in my heart.
“I spent over 20 years of my life at Arsenal and enjoyed being part of several generations at the club and have countless great memories from that time, but scoring the goal that helped us to win our first Premier League title in 1997/98 was a magical moment and a career highlight for me.
“I’m very pleased to join the Premier League Hall of Fame. It’s an honour to be recognised and voted for by the fans who make the game what it is.
“I’m certainly in good company when you look at the guys it includes and I’m happy to be listed alongside the likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira and Arsene Wenger.”
Also in this series
Part 2: Reasons why Tony Adams joins the Premier League Hall of Fame