I met Liverpool legend in his apartment - Aston Villa and Tottenham wanted me but I couldn’t say no
Charlie Adam has opened up about holding transfer talks with former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier and why he didn't have to think twice about joining the Reds
Charlie Adam has revealed how he once held transfer talks with legendary Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier in the Frenchman’s apartment before making his own move to Anfield. The former Scotland international, who is now part of David Moyes’ backroom team at Everton, joined the Reds from Blackpool in a £7m deal in the summer of 2011.
Liverpool had actually seen two bids rejected for the midfielder the previous January, but weren’t the only side pursuing his signature. Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa also wanted Adam, who went close to a move to Villa Park at one point.
Houllier was the manager of Villa at the time, having returned to the Premier League for the first time since his successful six-year stint with Liverpool came to an end in 2004.
And Adam has recalled how he held transfer talks with Houllier in his apartment prior to the January transfer window opening as the former Liverpool boss tried to persuade him to move to the Midlands.
“I did have a couple of options to speak to clubs,” Adam told talkSPORT last summer when recalling how close he came to leaving Blackpool in January 2011.
“I once met Gerard Houllier who for me was a very, very top manager. He spoke really well.
“I also had the opportunity to go to Tottenham on the last day of one of the windows as well. They were the two clubs that were coming in for me then.”
Adam also recently told the ‘I Had Trials Once’ podcast: “November, December before the January window, I had an inkling that maybe two or three clubs were going to come for me.
“I knew that Liverpool wanted me. I went to meet Gerard Houllier in his apartment he was at Aston Villa at the time. That was an unbelievable experience.
“Well, I went with my agent to his apartment, started talking to him and he got tactics boards out in the living room and that. He was just saying, 'This is where I want you to play. This is who’s going to play on the line. Agbonlahor is going to play there and this, and this is who we’re going to sign. I want you to be part of it. I mean, Gary McAllister and that.
“It was just two hours of just talking about football and tactics and all. 'This is how we train. This is what we do'.
“Just a genuine nice guy. Do you know what I mean? So I always think about when I met him, it was an unbelievable experience.”
However, despite interest from Villa, Adam admits he did not have to think twice when Liverpool entered the race for his signature.
“When I knew Liverpool were interested, it was the club I wanted to go to,” he told talkSPORT. “A huge club with a great fanbase, unbelievable supporters.
“And a squad that was full of top international players that played at a very, very high level. I was very fortunate enough to have the honour of playing for Liverpool.
“You look at the history of the players and everything at the football club was synonymous with the great players and what they’ve won over the years.
“It was such a special club to be part of just for the one season and I love going back to Anfield.
"I think it’s one of the top stadiums and a great place to go and watch a game.”