Adrian John Tucker (born 26 September 1976) is a Welsh former professional football goalkeeper who is currently an England national youth football teams' goalkeeping coach.

Adrian Tucker
Personal information
Full name Adrian John Tucker[1]
Date of birth (1976-09-26) 26 September 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1995 Torquay United 1 (0)
1995–1996 Inter Cardiff 16 (0)
1996–1997 Ebbw Vale 8 (0)
Managerial career
2007–2010 Wales women's national football team
2009–2014 Swansea City (Goalkeeping Coach)
2015–2018 Sunderland AFC (Goalkeeping coach)
2018-2019 Swansea City (Goalkeeping coach)
2019–2020 Bristol Rovers (Goalkeeping coach)
2020–2021 Morocco (Head of Goalkeeping)
2021- England national youth football teams (Goalkeeping coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Tucker has previously had two spells as goalkeeper coach at Swansea City AFC (2009-2014, 2018–2019) While also holding the same position at Sunderland AFC (2015-2018) He was part of Swansea City's promotion campaign to the Premier League in 2011 and League Cup win in 2013.

Career

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Born in Merthyr Tydfil, Tucker began his playing career with Torquay United. His debut came in December 1994, during an FA Cup second round replay at home to Enfield, when regular Torquay goalkeeper Ashley Bayes was sent off.[2]

A shoulder injury spoiled Tucker's professional career. After leaving Torquay in 1995 he played in the Welsh Premier League and Welsh pyramid system for a number of years and spent 12 years working for the Football Association of Wales in their technical coaching and development department.

In October 2007, Tucker took charge of his first match for the Wales women's national football team, following the resignation of Andy Beattie, a spell which lasted 2 years until he joined Swansea City first time around in July 2009 as a goalkeeping coach under incoming manager Paulo Sousa, replacing Iñaki Bergara who had followed Roberto Martínez to Wigan Athletic.[3] After Sousa's departure Tucker remained as part of Brendan Rodgers' backroom staff, as the Swans gained promotion to the FA Premier League. Following Rodgers' departure to Liverpool, Tucker continued in his role under Michael Laudrup where the Swans won the League Cup in 2013 and entered the Europa League. After five seasons working for Swansea City, Tucker was replaced by Sevilla goalkeeping coach Javier García on 27 June 2014.[4]

Tucker then took up the position as the goalkeeper coach of England under-20s managed by Aidy Boothroyd and the academy goalkeeping coach/consultant at Birmingham City.

On 16 March 2015 Tucker joined Dick Advocaat's staff at Sunderland following the dismissal of Gus Poyet and helped secure Premier League survival. He has since worked under Sam Allardyce, David Moyes, Simon Grayson, and Chris Coleman. He returned to Swansea City in June 2018 as Graham Potter's goalkeeping coach.[5] He left the club in June 2019 and joined Bristol Rovers in July 2019.[6]

On 26 August 2021, Tucker was confirmed as a goalkeeping coach with the England National Men Teams [7]

References

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  1. ^ Adrian Tucker at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  2. ^ "Classic Away Days (3) - Torquay United - 13/12/1994". The Cold End. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  3. ^ "Keeper coach Tucker joins Swans". BBC Sport. 15 July 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Swans sign Javier Garcia". swanseacity.com. Swansea City A.F.C. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Tucker Returns to Swans' Coaching Set Up". Swansea City. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Kevin Maher and Adrian Tucker Appointed to Graham Coughlan's First-Team Staff". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  7. ^ Veevers, Nicholas (26 August 2021). "England youth coaches confirmed". Retrieved 26 August 2021.
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