Adam Griffiths
Adam Griffiths | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 21, 1979 Sydney, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Football coach, former player |
| Years active | 1990s–2015 (player), 2016–present (coach) |
| Known for | Assistant Coach at Perth Glory FC, former Socceroo |
Adam Griffiths (born 21 August 1979 in Sydney) is an Australian football coach and former Socceroo, currently serving as Assistant Coach at Perth Glory FC.
In 2020, he took on the role of Head Coach at National Premier Leagues NSW club Manly United, where he revitalized the squad into an energetic and offensive unit that advanced to the NPL Grand Final in the 2021/22 season. His exceptional guidance was recognized with the NPL Coach of the Year accolade and the 2022 Football NSW Gold Medal Award for Coach of the Year.
By July 2022, Griffiths had joined the A-League ranks as Assistant Coach for Western Sydney Wanderers, working alongside Mark Rudan. His efforts contributed significantly to the team’s first finals qualification in seven years and aided in securing the league’s top defensive record during his initial A-League campaign.
Since July 2025, Griffiths has been fulfilling the role of Assistant Coach at Perth Glory FC, collaborating closely with head coach David Zdrilic.
Club career
Griffiths’ playing career began with various Australian clubs before he moved abroad to Belgium's Oostende, followed by a stint in England with Watford. On 11 July 2006, he signed with English League One side Brentford.
After being released by Brentford on 16 May 2007, he promptly returned to former club Newcastle Jets the following day. Notably, his twin brother Joel Griffiths was also part of Newcastle Jets' roster.
Griffiths made his A-League debut in Round 1 of the 2007–08 season against Perth Glory, and netted his first A-League goal in Round 5 facing Melbourne Victory.
On 20 November 2008, he secured a three-year contract with newly established club Gold Coast United, commencing play in the 2009/2010 season.
Following just one appearance for Gold Coast, Griffiths transferred to Saudi Arabian outfit Al Shabab in a deal reportedly valued at $1.2 million USD annually plus a $650,000 transfer fee. Subsequent reports suggested that Griffiths would return to Gold Coast under the terms of his contract.
On 3 February 2010, he signed with Adelaide United specifically for their Asian Champions League campaign.
Later that year, Griffiths joined Chinese club Hangzhou Greentown, where he contributed to their qualification for the 2011 AFC Champions League after achieving a fourth-place finish in the Chinese Super League.
On 4 June 2012, Griffiths inked a one-year contract with Sydney FC. After Sydney FC failed to reach the A-League finals, he was released along with several other players at the conclusion of the 2012–13 season.
In April 2013, Griffiths signed with Malaysian team Selangor FA for the remainder of their season.
He later joined APIA Leichhardt for competition during the 2015 season.
Personal life
Adam's twin, Joel, along with his younger sibling, Ryan, have also pursued careers as professional footballers. Beyond sports, Adam is involved in the arts as an emerging filmmaker, writer, and artist. He is married to actress Lily Brown Griffiths.
Coaching career
After concluding his playing career, Griffiths entered the coaching realm in 2016 by joining the senior program of Manly United, a club competing in the NPL NSW first division. He was promoted to Head Coach of Manly United's men's first-grade squad in 2020. Under his leadership in 2021, the team secured third place before the season was prematurely ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following year, Griffiths implemented a rapid and effective attacking approach that propelled Manly United to a second-place finish, narrowly missing out on the championship by goal difference. His achievements caught the eye of Mark Rudan, Head Coach of Western Sydney Wanderers, resulting in Griffiths’ appointment as Assistant Coach for the A-League Men club on 5 July 2022.