Adrian John Tucker (born 26 September 1976) is a Welsh former professional football goalkeeper who is currently an England national youth football teams' goalkeeping coach.
Tucker has previously had two spells as goalkeeper coach at Swansea City AFC (2009-2014, 2018–2019) While also holding the same position at Sunderland AFC (2015-2018) He was part of Swansea City's promotion campaign to the Premier League in 2011 and League Cup win in 2013.
Career
Born in
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil (; cy, Merthyr Tudful ) is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after Tydf ...
, Tucker began his playing career with Torquay United. His debut came in December 1994, during an
FA Cup second round replay at home to
Enfield, when regular Torquay goalkeeper
Ashley Bayes was sent off.
A shoulder injury spoiled Tucker's professional career. After leaving Torquay in 1995 he played in the Welsh Premier League and Welsh pyramid system for a number of years and spent 12 years working for the
Football Association of Wales in their technical coaching and development department.
In October 2007, Tucker took charge of his first match for the
Wales women's national football team, following the resignation of Andy Beattie, a spell which lasted 2 years until he joined Swansea City first time around in July 2009 as a goalkeeping coach under incoming manager
Paulo Sousa, replacing
Iñaki Bergara
Iñaki Bergara Iríbar (born 26 January 1962) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper, currently goalkeeper coach of the Portugal national team.
Playing career
Born in Ondarroa, Biscay, Bergara began his career in his native ...
who had followed
Roberto Martínez to
Wigan Athletic. After Sousa's departure Tucker remained as part of
Brendan Rodgers' backroom staff, as the Swans gained promotion to the FA Premier League. Following Rodgers' departure to
Liverpool, Tucker continued in his role under
Michael Laudrup where the Swans won the
League Cup in 2013 and entered the
Europa League. After five seasons working for Swansea City, Tucker was replaced by
Sevilla goalkeeping coach Javier García on 27 June 2014.
Tucker then took up the position as the goalkeeper coach of
England under-20s managed by
Aidy Boothroyd and the academy goalkeeping coach/consultant at
Birmingham City.
On 16 March 2015 Tucker joined
Dick Advocaat's staff at Sunderland following the dismissal of
Gus Poyet and helped secure Premier League survival. He has since worked under
Sam Allardyce,
David Moyes
David William Moyes ( ; born 25 April 1963) is a Scottish professional football coach and former player. He is currently the manager of Premier League club West Ham United. He was previously the manager of Preston North End, Everton, Manches ...
,
Simon Grayson, and
Chris Coleman. He returned to Swansea City in June 2018 as
Graham Potter
Graham Stephen Potter (born 20 May 1975) is an English professional football manager and former player who is the current head coach of club Chelsea.
In a 13-year playing career, Potter, who played as a left-back, made 307 appearances in th ...
's goalkeeping coach. He left the club in June 2019 and joined
Bristol Rovers in July 2019.
On 26 August 2021, Tucker was confirmed as a goalkeeping coach with the England National Men Teams
References
External links
Welsh Premier League Profile for Adrian Tucker
1976 births
Living people
Welsh men's footballers
Merthyr Tydfil F.C. players
Torquay United F.C. players
Footballers from Merthyr Tydfil
Wales women's national football team managers
Swansea City A.F.C. non-playing staff
Sunderland A.F.C. non-playing staff
Men's association football goalkeepers
Welsh football managers
Bristol Rovers F.C. non-playing staff
Inter Cardiff F.C. players
Ebbw Vale F.C. players
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