Tony Adams has admitted that he took the advice of former boss Arsene Wenger on board before deciding to take the reins at Portsmouth. The 42-year-old former Arsenal and England defender was unveiled as the new manager at Fratton Park and will take charge of the side for tomorrow's clash with Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield.
Adams was in temporary charge alongside Joe Jordan for Sunday's 1-1 draw with Fulham following the departure of Harry Redknapp to Spurs.
Adams, who played under Wenger, said: "I spoke to Arsene last night for advice and he said 'welcome to hell'. I said 'are you scared? Because I'm coming for you!'"
"It's fantastic. I'm very honoured, it's a great opportunity and one I would be mad to turn down. I'm very excited, I can't wait to get going. I've been here two and a half years and it was kind of business as usual this morning.
"We've got some great players here at Portsmouth and I've been kind of responsible, with Harry, for bringing them to the club.
"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. But I think it is my time, I think I am ready."
Peter Storrie, who has become executive chairman at Fratton Park, confirmed the appointment and revealed Adams had been given a two-year contract.
Storrie said: "It's been a bit of a whirlwind 48 hours. I know we said we'd take our time a little bit but we had a think about it, had a chat with Tony and we feel he's done a tremendous job here and thoroughly deserves this opportunity to manage the club.
"He's not only popular among the board and people working at the club, but as was shown on Sunday, it's a popular decision for the supporters."
Wenger believes Portsmouth have made the right choice and that Adams is up to the task of managing in the Premier League, despite his only previous experience of the top job coming during an unsuccessful stint with Wycombe Wanderers. He also spent time with Feyenoord and Utrecht in the Netherlands.
Wenger said: "It makes me very happy. I believe it is a good opportunity for him and we wish him of course well.
"He is at the age now where you have to start in this job. For the rest I believe he has a good squad and he has worked a lot now in this job and I think he is ready.
"Tony has now much more experience because he has been abroad and has been at Portsmouth as an assistant. I believe he has the qualities and that is why I am very positive about it."
Wenger feels Adams, who was his double winning captain in 1998, has now come full circle following his well-documented off-field problems.
"I believe in life when you go wrong you can always, with intelligence and character, turn things right and that is what he did."
"He came out and said he had a drinking problem when he was a player and he showed enough strength and character to change that.
"I believed in him because everybody deserves a chance when he wants really to change life. That basically didn't come from me, it came from him."
Wenger firmly believes Adams has the leadership qualities needed to take Pompey forward.
"I believe that he has natural authority which is one important ingredient, the second one is of course to convince everybody about your philosophy and the way you see things. At that level you need a big resistance to stress and daily commitment.
"You want to give him the chance. What is most important is that I believe he has the qualities. He gets the opportunity and only time will tell how he would do and I would bet that he will do well."
TONY ADAMS FACTFILE
1966: Born Romford, Essex, October 10.
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: Not selected for England's World Cup final bid in Italy, which ends with semi-final defeat to Germany 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: Helps England draw 0-0 with Italy in Rome's Olympic Stadium to qualify for France 98.
1998: Helps lead Arsenal to the league and FA Cup double.
Wins his 50th cap for England but suffers huge disappointment when Glenn Hoddle's men lose to Argentina on penalties and are knocked out of the World Cup.
1999: Part of the England team that qualifies for Euro 2000.
2000: Arsenal lose to Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup final.
Named as England captain following Alan Shearer's decision to retire from the international scene.
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.
2001: Adams announces that he intends to quit international football in order to prolong his playing career.
2002: Plays just 13 league and cup games during the 2001/2002 season due to injury, but does play in the 2-0 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea as the Gunners complete the double.
In August, ends speculation over his future by revealing he is to take a break from football in order to take a three-year course in sports science.
Reveals he has had several offers to go into management but turned them down because of his "lack of preparation".
2003: January 15 - Denied the chance to take his first step into coaching as soccer consultant with Dr Marten's League side Weymouth after consortium he was linked with had their bid for the club rejected.
November 5 - Appointed manager of League One Wycombe.
2004: May - After just six league wins all season, Wycombe finish bottom and are relegated to League Two.
November 9 - Resigns as manager citing personal reasons.
2005: July - Takes up training coaching role with Feyenoord's youth side in Holland.
2006: January - Becomes trainee coach with Utrecht first team.
June 28 - Appointed assistant manager to Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth.
2008: October 25 - Becomes caretaker manager following Redknapp's departure for Tottenham.
October 28 - Confirmed as Portsmouth manager.
