Addicted,
by Tony Adams and Ian Ridley (1998)
FORMER England and Arsenal captain Tony Adams tells his story of what it is like playing with the best players in the game, from Gazza to Dennis Bergkamp; and working with some of the most successful managers, including George Graham, Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle and Arsene Wenger.
But above all, his story is that of a winner, a man who has brought the intense determination he has shown on the field to his recovery from illnesses off it.
Adams recalls openly his descent into alcohol addiction, which at one point saw him jailed for drink-driving. Just as he was finding his feet again after the slow rehabilitation process, problems with his marriage surfaced and soon after Adams found himself heading for a divorce.
He talks honestly about that traumatic period in his life and also about the pressures and demands of being a top-class footballer in the modern era.
Also recommended: Paul Merson - Hero and Villain, by Paul Merson and Ian Ridley (1999)