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.
 Adam Griffiths gives instructions at a Wellington Phoenix training session in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Adam David Griffiths | ||
| Date of birth | 21 August 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Sydney, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder, Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–1996 | Sydney United | ||
| 1997 | Sutherland Sharks | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998 | Sutherland Sharks | 6 | (1) |
| 1999–2001 | Northern Spirit | 21 | (1) |
| 2000 | → Gippsland Falcons (loan) | 7 | (1) |
| 2001 | → Manly United (loan) | 21 | (9) |
| 2002–2003 | Newcastle Jets | 31 | (1) |
| 2004–2005 | Oostende | 27 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Watford | 0 | (0) |
| 2006 | AFC Bournemouth | 7 | (1) |
| 2006–2007 | Brentford | 37 | (1) |
| 2007–2009 | Newcastle Jets | 38 | (3) |
| 2009 | Gold Coast United | 1 | (0) |
| 2009 | Al-Shabab | 15 | (0) |
| 2010 | Adelaide United | 8 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Hangzhou Greentown | 33 | (3) |
| 2012–2013 | Sydney FC | 18 | (0) |
| 2013 | Selangor FA | 16 | (3) |
| 2014–2015 | Kedah FA | 16 | (4) |
| 2015 | APIA Leichhardt Tigers | 15 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2008 | Australia | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2016–2020 | Manly United (Assistant Manager) | ||
| 2020–2022 | Manly United (First Team Manager) | ||
| 2022–2023 | Western Sydney Wanderers (Assistant Manager) | ||
| 2023– | Wellington Phoenix (Assistant Manager) | ||
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 September 2015 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 May 2014 | |||
On May 20, 2023, Adam joined Wellington Phoenix as their Assistant Coach.[1]
Club career
editGriffiths 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
editAdam'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
editIn 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
editReferences
edit- ^ Phoenix, Wellington. "Griffiths joins Nix coaching staff". Wellington Phoenix official website. Wellington Phoenix. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Griffiths Signs". Brentford F.C. 11 July 2006. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
- ^ Ritson, Jon (26 July 2007). "Adam's Set For Take-Off at Jets". Australian FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
- ^ Cockerill, Michael (5 August 2005). "Twin peaks, and now for the sequel". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
- ^ Chadwick, Justin (26 August 2007). "Glory, Jets share points". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
- ^ ninemsn (20 November 2008). "Griffiths signs for Gold Coast United". ninemsn.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ^ "Big offer just too good to refuse". goldcoast.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
- ^ foxsports (3 February 2010). "Reds sign Griffiths for ACL". FOXSports. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- ^ The Daily Telegraph (4 June 2012). "Sydney FC sign Adam Griffiths". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 June 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Sydney FC culls its roster". The World Game. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
- ^ "Opinion: ASEAN doors open wider with Griffiths' move". Goal.com. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
- ^ Griffith brothers to play big part in A-League finals
- ^ "Adam's artistry on and off field". goldcoast.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
- ^ "ADAM GRIFFITHS APPOINTED WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS ASSISTANT COACH". Football NSW. 5 July 2022.
- ^ 2008 A-League Grand Final (Television production). Sydney, Australia: Fox Sports. 24 February 2008.