Qäbälä take Adams to Azerbaijan

Former England and Arsenal FC captain Tony Adams has returned to coaching in Azerbaijan after agreeing a three-year deal to lead FK Qäbälä.

The 43-year-old Adams will be assisted by former Tottenham Hotspur FC player Gary Stevens, Turkish technician Fatih Kirvak and his predecessor as Qäbälä coach, Ramiz Mammadov, with another Englishman, Alastair Saverimutto, the sporting director. Although Adams has been set no goals for next season by the club lying sixth in the Azerbaijani Premier League with one game to go, they have ambitious plans for the 2011/12 campaign.

Previously in charge of Wycombe Wanderers FC and Portsmouth FC after a playing career in which he won four league titles, three FA Cups and a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with Arsenal, as well as 66 England caps – leading his nation to the EURO '96 semi-finals – Adams said: "The meeting with Qäbälä president Tale Heydarov influenced my decision to move to Azerbaijan. Our initial goal will be to build a competitive team and then we'll think about hitting the heights. I can already say that we'll sign a player from Scotland and one from England. At the same time we'll rely on local trainees."