Adam Griffiths

This article is about the Australian football (soccer) player. For other uses, see Adam Griffiths (disambiguation).

Adam Griffiths
Adam Griffiths gives instructions at a Wellington Phoenix training session in 2024
Personal information
Full name Adam David Griffiths
Date of birth (1979-08-21) 21 August 1979
Place of birth Sydney, Australia
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)
Youth career
1995–1996 Sydney United
1997 Sutherland Sharks
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998 Sutherland Sharks 6 (1)
1999–2001 Northern Spirit 21 (1)
2000 → Gippsland Falcons (loan) 7 (1)
2001 → Manly United (loan) 21 (9)
2002–2003 Newcastle Jets 31 (1)
2004–2005 Oostende 27 (0)
2005–2006 Watford 0 (0)
2006 AFC Bournemouth 7 (1)
2006–2007 Brentford 37 (1)
2007–2009 Newcastle Jets 38 (3)
2009 Gold Coast United 1 (0)
2009 Al-Shabab 15 (0)
2010 Adelaide United 8 (0)
2010–2011 Hangzhou Greentown 33 (3)
2012–2013 Sydney FC 18 (0)
2013 Selangor FA 16 (3)
2014–2015 Kedah FA 16 (4)
2015 APIA Leichhardt Tigers 15 (1)
International career‡
2008 Australia 2 (0)
Managerial career
2020–2022 Manly United
2025– Perth Glory
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 September 2015
‡ National team caps and goals as of 9 May 2014

Adam Griffiths (born 21 August 1979) is an Australian professional soccer manager and former player who currently serves as the head coach of A-League Men club Perth Glory.[1]

In 2020 he became Head Coach of National Premier Leagues NSW side Manly United. In 2022 he transformed Manly United FC into a dynamic, attacking team that reached the 2021/22 NPL Grand Final, earning him recognition as NPL Coach of the Year. Adam was awarded Coach of the year 2022 at the Football NSW Gold Medal Awards. In July 2022 he was appointed as Assistant Coach at the Western Sydney Wanderers under Mark Rudan. Griffiths helped guide the team to their first finals in seven years and the league’s best defensive record during his debut year as an A-League assistant coach.

Club career

Griffiths played for a number of Australian clubs before moving to Europe with Belgian club Oostende, and later England with Watford. He moved to another English club, League One side Brentford on 11 July 2006.[2]

Griffiths was released by Brentford on 16 May 2007 and rejoined former club Newcastle Jets the next day.[3] His twin brother Joel Griffiths also played for the Newcastle Jets.[4]

He made his A-League debut in Round 1 of the 2007–08 A-League season against Perth Glory,[5] and scored his first goal in the A-League in Round 5 against Melbourne Victory.

Griffiths signed for the expansion club Gold Coast United, on a three-year contract starting in the 2009/2010 season,[6] but only played one game.

Griffiths moved to Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab, in a deal worth $1.2 million USD a season plus a $650,000 transfer fee.[7]

On 3 February 2010, Griffiths signed with Adelaide United for the club's Asian Champions League campaign.[8]

Later in 2010, Griffiths moved to China to join Hangzhou Greentown (who qualified for the 2011 AFC Champions League after a fourth-place finish in the 2010 CSL season).

On 4 June 2012, Griffiths signed a 1-year deal with Sydney FC.[9] He was released at the conclusion of the 2012–13 A-League season.[10]

Adam joined Malaysian side Selangor FA in April 2013 until the end of the 2013 Malaysian football season.[11]

He signed for APIA Leichhardt for the 2015 season.

Coaching career

In 2016 Griffiths transitioned from a professional football player into coaching, joining first division NSW club, Manly United senior program. In 2020 Griffiths became the Head Coach of Manly United men's 1st grade team. In his first full season 2021 he helped steer the club into 3rd position in the league before the season was cut due to COVID disruptions. In the 2022 season Griffiths transformed the team into fast efficient attacking passing team and came within 1 goal difference from Manly United winning the title, finishing 2nd on goal difference. Griffiths achievements attracted the attention of Mark Rudan, Head Coach of Western Sydney Wanderers and on the 5th of July Griffiths was appointed Assistant Coach of A-League Men club Western Sydney Wanderers.[12]

In July 2025, Griffiths became Assistant Coach at A-League club Perth Glory, alongside head coach David Zdrilic.

In November 2025, he took over as interim head coach following the departure of Zdrilic.[1][13] Griffiths’ first match as interim head coach ended in a 2–0 defeat to Melbourne Victory.[14]

After winning three of his six matches in charge, Griffiths was appointed head coach on 16 December 2025 until the end of the 2025–26 season, with an option for a longer-term extension.[15]

Honours

Newcastle Jets

Personal life

Adam's twin brother, Joel, and younger brother Ryan, are also professional footballers.[17] Adam is also an artist and up-and-coming film director and writer.[18] He is married to actress Lily Brown Griffiths.

Managerial statistics

As of 25 January 2026
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Perth Glory FC November 2025 Present 13 6 0 7 046.15
Total 13 6 0 7 046.15

References

  1. ^ a b Morgan, Gareth (20 November 2025). "ALM Match Preview: Glory receive attacking boost ahead of Newcastle trip". Perth Glory. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Griffiths Signs". Brentford F.C. 11 July 2006. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
  3. ^ Ritson, Jon (26 July 2007). "Adam's Set For Take-Off at Jets". Australian FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
  4. ^ Cockerill, Michael (5 August 2005). "Twin peaks, and now for the sequel". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
  5. ^ Chadwick, Justin (26 August 2007). "Glory, Jets share points". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
  6. ^ ninemsn (20 November 2008). "Griffiths signs for Gold Coast United". ninemsn.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  7. ^ "Big offer just too good to refuse". goldcoast.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  8. ^ foxsports (3 February 2010). "Reds sign Griffiths for ACL". FOXSports. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  9. ^ The Daily Telegraph (4 June 2012). "Sydney FC sign Adam Griffiths". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  10. ^ "Sydney FC culls its roster". The World Game. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Opinion: ASEAN doors open wider with Griffiths' move". Goal.com. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  12. ^ "ADAM GRIFFITHS APPOINTED WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS ASSISTANT COACH". Football NSW. 5 July 2022.
  13. ^ Morgan, Gareth (28 October 2025). "ALM Head Coach David Zdrilic departs club". Perth Glory. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  14. ^ "ALM Match Wrap: Clinical Victory claim the win at HBF Park". Perth Glory FC. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Griffiths becomes Glory's permanent ALM head coach". Perth Glory FC. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  16. ^ 2008 A-League Grand Final (Television production). Sydney, Australia: Fox Sports. 24 February 2008.
  17. ^ Griffith brothers to play big part in A-League finals
  18. ^ "Adam's artistry on and off field". goldcoast.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
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