Charlie Adam

Ian Holloway was the making of Charlie Adam. The Blackpool boss signed him from Glasgow Rangers for a cut-price ?500,000 in the summer of 2009 and the Scottish international has never looked back. Holloway had first taken Adam on loan at a time when the latter was struggling north of the border and there was a nightmare debut for the midfield playmaker when he was sent off in a 3-2 defeat by Doncaster Rovers. However, the deal was made permanent that summer and the man from Dundee played a key role as Blackpool defied all the odds to secure promotion to the Premier League. The heartbeat of the side, Adam also came up with 19 goals, including a free-kick in the Play-Off final against Cardiff City at Wembley. His outstanding form also brought a return to the international scene. He went on to score a penalty in front of the Kop as the Seasiders chalked up a notable 2-1 victory over Liverpool in a rip-roaring start to life in the Premiership, but a roller-coaster ride saw them relegated on the last day of the season. Adam’s form, however, never dipped, and he clinched his dream move to Anfield in July 2011. He began his career with Glasgow Rangers and had successful loan spells with Ross County and St Mirren before returning to Ibrox in the summer of 2006. He made his Scotland debut in a friendly with Austria in 2008-09.