Tony Adams, left, with Redknapp and Jordon at Portsmouth  [GALLO/GETTY]

Adams, who has been assistant to Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth since June
2006, signed a 2½-year contract following his former boss's switch to Tottenham at the weekend.

"I am going to take this opportunity and risk, because Harry's done a fantastic job for this club and is a hard act to follow," the 42-year-old Adams said.

"But I think it is my time, I think I am ready."

Great opportunity

Adams, the only player to have captained a team to the English league title in three different decades, has long been touted as a likely manager, even after resigning following a poor spell at Wycombe in November 2004.

"It's a great opportunity and one I'd be mad to turn down," Adams said.

"I've been here 2½ years so it was kind of business as usual this morning.

"I'd hate to sit at home and see them give this job to someone else."

Adams followed his year long coaching debut at Wycombe, which included relegation to League Two and a poor run in the following season, with stints in the Netherlands, helping train a Feyenoord youth side and joining the FC Utrecht first team as a trainee coach.

Redknapp then took him to Portsmouth, where he helped the club win last season's FA Cup, the club's first trophy for 58 years.

Redknapp supportive

"When I bought Tony Adams in, Tony wanted to be manager one day," Redknapp said.

"I thought, 'Come with me for a year or two and you can step into my job.'

"That's how I felt about it then."

With Redknapp having quit to join Tottenham late on Saturday night, Adams and
fellow coach Joe Jordan took charge of Sunday's 1-1 draw with Fulham.

The former England defender, who has yet to assemble his coaching staff, will have his first match in sole charge on Wednesday at Premier League leader Liverpool, the only unbeaten side in the division.

Portsmouth has shown itself to be defensively strong under Adams, which was a trademark of the teams he played in.

Adams in his successful Arsenal years [GALLO/GETTY]

Chosen as Arsenal captain in 1988 at age 21, Adams spent his entire playing career with the Gunners and made 66 appearances for England.

With Steve Bould alongside him and Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn at fullback, Adams was part of a defence assembled by George Graham that was the basis for three league championship winning teams.

Central defenders Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin seemed to benefit from
Adams' tutelage as Portsmouth conceded just one goal in six matches en route
to winning the FA Cup.

"We've got some great players here at Portsmouth and I've been kind of
responsible, with Harry, for bringing them to the club," Adams said.

Adams has won admiration for his character as well as his playing and coaching abilities.

Addicted

In September 1996, following a lengthy drinking binge that followed England's elimination from the European Championship semi-finals, Adams publicly acknowledged that he was an alcoholic.

He successfully fought an addiction that caused a four-month jail sentence for drunk driving.

His rehabilitation continued under Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who built his first sides on Graham's defence and whose introduction of a new dietary regime and training methods was credited with extending Adams' career.

Such was his longevity that in 1998 and 2002 Adams added the double of Premier League and FA Cup to the league titles he won in 1989 and 1991.

"I spoke to Arsene last night to ask advice and he said, 'Welcome to hell,'" Adams said.

"I said, 'Are you scared? Because I'm coming for you.'"