Adam Griffiths Explained

Adam Griffiths
Fullname:Adam David Griffiths
Birth Date:21 August 1979
Birth Place:Sydney, Australia
Height:1.89 m
Position:Midfielder, Defender
Youthyears1:1995–1996
Youthclubs1:Sydney United
Youthyears2:1997
Youthclubs2:Sutherland Sharks
Years1:1998
Clubs1:Sutherland Sharks
Caps1:6
Goals1:1
Years2:1999–2001
Clubs2:Northern Spirit
Caps2:21
Goals2:1
Years3:2000
Clubs3:Gippsland Falcons (loan)
Caps3:7
Goals3:1
Years4:2001
Clubs4:Manly United (loan)
Caps4:21
Goals4:9
Years5:2002–2003
Clubs5:Newcastle Jets
Caps5:31
Goals5:1
Years6:2004–2005
Clubs6:Oostende
Caps6:27
Goals6:0
Years7:2005–2006
Clubs7:Watford
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Years8:2006
Clubs8:AFC Bournemouth
Caps8:7
Goals8:1
Years9:2006–2007
Clubs9:Brentford
Caps9:37
Goals9:1
Years10:2007–2009
Clubs10:Newcastle Jets
Caps10:38
Goals10:3
Years11:2009
Clubs11:Gold Coast United
Caps11:1
Goals11:0
Years12:2009
Clubs12:Al-Shabab
Caps12:15
Goals12:0
Years13:2010
Clubs13:Adelaide United
Caps13:8
Goals13:0
Years14:2010–2011
Clubs14:Hangzhou Greentown
Caps14:33
Goals14:3
Years15:2012–2013
Clubs15:Sydney FC
Caps15:18
Goals15:0
Years16:2013
Clubs16:Selangor FA
Caps16:16
Goals16:3
Years17:2014–2015
Clubs17:Kedah FA
Caps17:16
Goals17:4
Years18:2015
Clubs18:APIA Leichhardt Tigers
Caps18:15
Goals18:1
Nationalyears1:2008
Nationalteam1:Australia
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2016–2020
Managerclubs1:Manly United (Assistant Manager)
Manageryears2:2020–2022
Managerclubs2:Manly United (First Team Manager)
Manageryears3:2022–2023
Managerclubs3:Western Sydney Wanderers (Assistant Manager)
Manageryears4:2023–
Managerclubs4:Wellington Phoenix (Assistant Manager)
Club-Update:16 September 2015
Nationalteam-Update:9 May 2014

Adam Griffiths (born 21 August 1979 in Sydney) is an Australian professional football manager who currently serves as the Assistant Coach of Wellington Phoenix. He is a former professional football (soccer) player and Socceroo. Since 2020 he has been Head Coach of National Premiere Leagues NSW side Manly United. In 2022 he turned a difficult season around to come 2nd in the Premiership equal on points to first but missing out by one goal difference. He then took the team into the Grand Final against Blacktown. Adam was awarded Coach of the year 2022 at the Football NSW Gold Medal Awards. In July 2022 he was appointed to the A- League as Assistant Coach under Mark Rudan at The Western Sydney Wanderers.

On May 20, 2023, Adam joined Wellington Phoenix as their Assistant Coach.[1]

Club career

Griffiths played for a number of Australian clubs before moving to Europe with Belgian club Oostende, and later England with Watford. He moved to another English club, League One side Brentford on 11 July 2006.[2]

Griffiths was released by Brentford on 16 May 2007 and rejoined former club Newcastle Jets the next day.[3] His twin brother Joel Griffiths also played for the Newcastle Jets.[4]

He made his A-League debut in Round 1 of the 2007–08 A-League season against Perth Glory,[5] and scored his first goal in the A-League in Round 5 against Melbourne Victory.

As of Thursday 20 November 2008, Griffiths signed for new expansion club Gold Coast United, on a three-year contract starting in the 2009/2010 season.[6]

After playing only one game for Gold Coast, Griffiths moved to Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab, in a deal worth $1.2 million USD a season plus a $650,000 transfer fee.[7] It is now reported that Griffiths will be leaving Al Shabab and returning to Gold Coast under the terms of his deal.

On 3 February 2010, Griffiths signed with Adelaide United for the club's Asian Champions League campaign.[8]

Later in 2010, Griffiths moved to China to join Hangzhou Greentown who he helped clinch qualification for the 2011 AFC Champions League after a fourth-place finish in the 2010 CSL season.

On 4 June 2012, Griffiths signed a 1-year deal with Sydney FC.[9]

However, as a result of Sydney FC failing to qualify for the A-League finals, Griffiths, along with teammates Paul Reid, Krunoslav Lovrek, Trent McClenahan, Nathan Sherlock and Jarrod Kyle were released by Sydney FC at the conclusion of the 2012–13 A-League season.[10]

Subsequently, Adam joined Malaysian side Selangor FA in April 2013 until the end of the 2013 Malaysian football season.[11]

He signed for the APIA Leichhardt for the 2015 season.

Personal life

Adam's twin brother, Joel and younger brother, Ryan, are also professional footballers.[12] Adam is also an artist and up-and-coming film director and writer.[13] He is married to the actress Lily Brown Griffiths.

Coaching career

In 2016 Griffiths transitioned from a professional football player into coaching, joining first division NSW club, Manly United senior program. In 2020 Griffiths became the Head Coach of Manly United men's 1st grade team. In his first full season 2021 he helped steer the club into 3rd position in the league before the season was cut due to COVID disruptions. In the 2022 season Griffiths transformed the team into fast efficient attacking passing team and came within 1 goal difference from Manly United winning the title, finishing 2nd on goal difference. Griffiths achievements attracted the attention of Mark Rudan, Head Coach of Western Sydney Wanderers and on the 5th of July Griffiths was appointed Assistant Coach of A-League Men club Western Sydney Wanderers.[14]

Honours

Newcastle Jets

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Phoenix . Wellington . Griffiths joins Nix coaching staff . Wellington Phoenix official website . Wellington Phoenix . 19 December 2023.
  2. News: Griffiths Signs . 11 July 2006 . 13 September 2007 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20180403175226/http://world.brentfordfc.co.uk/page/LatestNewsIndex/0,,10421,325,00.html . 3 April 2018 . dead.
  3. News: Jon . Ritson . Adam's Set For Take-Off at Jets . https://web.archive.org/web/20131212221319/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/57192%2Cadams-set-for-takeoff-at-jets.aspx . 12 December 2013 . . 26 July 2007 . 13 September 2007 . dead .
  4. News: Michael . Cockerill . Twin peaks, and now for the sequel . . 5 August 2005 . 13 September 2007 .
  5. News: Justin . Chadwick . Glory, Jets share points . https://web.archive.org/web/20110617102227/http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=18974 . 2011-06-17 . . 26 August 2007 . 13 September 2007 .
  6. News: ninemsn . Griffiths signs for Gold Coast United . . 20 November 2008 . 21 November 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706111155/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=669311 . 6 July 2011 .
  7. Web site: Big offer just too good to refuse. https://web.archive.org/web/20120224174358/http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/08/14/108171_gold-coast-soccer.html. 24 February 2012. goldcoast.com.au. 22 October 2015.
  8. News: foxsports. Reds sign Griffiths for ACL. . 3 February 2010 . 3 February 2010 .
  9. News: The Daily Telegraph. Sydney FC sign Adam Griffiths . The Daily Telegraph. 4 June 2012 . 4 June 2012 .
  10. Web site: Sydney FC culls its roster. The World Game. 22 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20130928012905/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1147404/Sydney-FC-culls-its-roster. 28 September 2013. dead.
  11. Web site: Opinion: ASEAN doors open wider with Griffiths' move. Goal.com. 22 October 2015.
  12. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/jets-twins-peak-at-right-time/story-e6frf9if-1111115375362 Griffith brothers to play big part in A-League finals
  13. Web site: Adam's artistry on and off field. https://web.archive.org/web/20131104043156/http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/06/12/87655_gold-coast-sport.html. 4 November 2013. goldcoast.com.au. 22 October 2015.
  14. Web site: ADAM GRIFFITHS APPOINTED WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS ASSISTANT COACH. Football NSW . 5 July 2022 .
  15. 24 February 2008 . 2008 A-League Grand Final . Television production . English . Sydney, Australia . Fox Sports.