Happy birthday, "Mr Arsenal"

Posted Tuesday, October 11, 2011 by ESPN

Happy birthday,

1966: Born Romford, Essex, 10 October

1983: Makes Arsenal debut aged 17

1984: Signed as full professional by Arsenal in January after completing apprenticeship

1985: Makes first of five appearances for England Under-21s (had previously played at schools and youth level)

1987: Wins first of 66 England caps (13 as captain) in 4-2 victory over Spain in Madrid in February

Member of Arsenal's Littlewoods Cup-winning side as Liverpool are beaten 2-1 in final at Wembley

1988: Becomes youngest-ever Arsenal captain

1989: Leads Arsenal to their first league title for 18 years

1990: Plays in World Cup finals in Italy, where England reach semi-finals before suffering penalty shoot-out agony at the hands of the Germans in Turin

Jailed for four months after admitting drink-driving offences in December Serves two months of sentence

1991: After coming out of jail, returns to Arsenal side which wins championship for second time in three seasons

1993: Helps Arsenal lift Coca-Cola Cup and FA Cup with Wembley wins over Sheffield Wednesday in both competitions
Back in England side for first time since jail sentence as England slump 2-0 to Norway in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo in June

1994: Member of Arsenal side which lifts European Cup Winners' Cup, beating Parma 1-0 in final in Copenhagen

1995: European misery as Arsenal slump 2-1 to Real Zaragoza in Cup Winners' Cup final in Paris

1996: Overcomes knee injury to figure in all five of England's Euro 96 matches in a campaign which again ends in a semi-final defeat on penalties to Germany

Reports that Adams is seeking a divorce after his wife Jane is treated for drug addiction are followed by his own admission of alcoholism

1997: Hit by injury to left ankle in March and then rib injury which keeps him out for the start of the season

Played a fundamental part in the side that drew 0-0 with Italy in the Olympic stadium to qualify for France 98

1998: Wins his 50th cap for England but suffers huge disappointment when England lose to Argentina on penalties

Helps lead Arsenal to the league and FA Cup double

1999: Is an integral part of the England team that qualifies for Euro 2000

2000: Suffers disappointment when Arsenal lose to Galatasaray in the Uefa Cup final but is boosted by a second-place league position to guarantee Champions League competition next season

Is called up to Kevin Keegan's Euro 2000 squad

24 August: Named as England captain following Alan Shearer's decision to retire from the international scene

2 September: Wins his 65th cap skippering England in a friendly against World and European champions France in Paris
7 October: Skippers England against Germany in opening World Cup qualifier - the last England international at Wembley before its redevelopment - England lose 1-0 and Keegan quits as coach after the game

11 October: Adams misses the World Cup qualifier in Finland because of a recurrence of back trouble and Martin Keown takes over as captain for the 0-0 draw - Howard Wilkinson acts as caretaker England manager for the game

2001: 20 January: Adams announces that he intends to quit international football in order to prolong his playing career
August 2002: Retires from football