CHARLIE ADAM ON PLAYER DEVELOPMENT, U21S SEASON, INTERNATIONAL CALL-UPS, AND MORE!

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Head of Academy Player Development explains his role in feature interview

2026-06-08T14:00:00.000Z

CHARLIE ADAM ON PLAYER DEVELOPMENT, U21S SEASON, INTERNATIONAL CALL-UPS, AND MORE!

Head of Academy Player Development explains his role in feature interview

2026-06-08T14:00:00.000Z

Head of Academy Player Development explains his role in feature interview

It’s been a busy first season back at Burnley for Charlie Adam, who has taken on a newly-created role within the Academy staff set-up.

The 40-year-old returned to the Club in August as Head of Academy Player Development, part of which sees him work closely alongside U21s Manager Andy Farrell.

“I do a lot of different things,” Adam explained.

“I look after our high potential players from U16s up – players that we feel are progressing and we can give the opportunity to go and train with the U21s.

“There’s coaching the U21s and a bit of loan management as well, so a bit of everything really!

“I try and pass my experiences onto the players, to get them to understand what it takes to be a professional footballer.

“I’ve really enjoyed it. I had a spell here a couple of years ago before I went into management, and I got that opportunity to come back into the football club, which is great.”

Despite still being in its infancy, Adam’s post-playing career has taken on a variety of roles to date.

After an initial 18-month spell in the Clarets Academy he took on the Head Coach role at Fleetwood Town, before a spell at Premier League side Everton as Set-Piece Coach.

CHARLIE ADAM ON PLAYER DEVELOPMENT, U21S SEASON, INTERNATIONAL CALL-UPS, AND MORE! - Image 1

With the young Clarets preparing for life in Premier League 2, the former Liverpool midfielder returned to Padiham last summer.

Reflecting on the U21s’ 2025/26 campaign as a whole, he said: “It was disappointing to finish where we finished.

“We probably didn’t deserve that, but what I will say is that there has been the progression of younger players getting to play in the U21s, including a couple of U16s players.

“George (Brierley), Kian (McMahon—Brown) being standouts throughout the season, and George now captaining the team. That’s really good development for them.

“You’ve then got people like Murray Campbell, who’ve been at the club for a number of years now and played every minute.

“It’s been amazing in terms of the quality of player we’ve played against, and we’ve had some tough games.

“Earlier in the season we beat Liverpool, which was a big one at the AXA. We did well against Chelsea here.

“Manchester City were a level above us, but that’s what we’re competing against.

“We’ve grown as the season’s gone on in terms of performance, and the players have started to understand what the game presents to them.

CHARLIE ADAM ON PLAYER DEVELOPMENT, U21S SEASON, INTERNATIONAL CALL-UPS, AND MORE! - Image 2

“It’s been a successful season, ultimately capped off with an unbelievable trophy win at the Stadium of Light.

“A big part of learning is about winning as well, and if you can win along the way it does really help you.”

It’s not just with their club that Adam has been impressed with how some of the youngsters have developed this season.

Many different individuals have had exposure with their respective national teams at various levels, including the likes of Luca Scanlon, who has played regularly for the Gibraltar senior team at just 16 years old.

“At the international level again, we talk about the elevation and recognition of players,” Adam continued.

“(Luca) Scanlon getting his debut is a real highlight, but we’ve had players from the younger age groups getting call-ups too.

“Kian McMahon-Brown has been brilliant for us, went to a (U17s) World Cup, and has now recently had a call-up for the Republic of Ireland U21s squad. At seventeen years of age, that’s a huge achievement.

“We want as many players from Burnley to be playing for their national teams as possible.

“It helps their development but also puts the Club out there as being a place for young players to come, develop, and grow.”