Charlie Adam praised Leighton Baines as a player and a coach, explaining that working with the Everton assistant manager was a boost for his own growth
Everton's assistant manager Leighton Baines helps with the warm-up ahead of the match between Bournemouth and Everton. Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images
Everton's assistant manager Leighton Baines helps with the warm-up ahead of the match between Bournemouth and Everton. Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images
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Former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam has heralded Leighton Baines as an impressive coach who helped him develop his own career behind the scenes at Everton.
Adam worked with Baines as part of David Moyes’ backroom team in the first half of 2025 when he enjoyed a stint at Everton as set- piece coach,
The ex-Scotland midfielder reflected on that period after playing alongside Baines in the Game4Hope charity match at Goodison Park, held to raise money for homelessness charity Shelter and Everton in the Community.
The pair finished the game on the Merseyside XI that beat a Rest of the World side featuring the likes of Rivaldo and Clarence Seedorf 3-2, the winning goal coming when Baines converted the rebound after his stoppage-time penalty was saved.
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Both dead-ball experts, they shared set-piece duties across a match in which Baines echoed his exploits of the past as he marauded forward from left-back to create chances for the likes of Tim Cahill, Toni Duggan and Tony Bellew.
After the match, Adam said of Baines: “He is a top, top player, and you could just still see, even now, his hunger. I worked at Everton for six months and in terms of coaching you can see how he's trying to develop and learn as a coach. He is a very, very good coach.”
Expanding on their time together - both were brought in after Moyes returned to the club in January 2025, Baines being promoted to assistant manager after having led the club’s Under-18s - Adam said: “He is quiet, he is reserved, but [his attention to] detail, and seeing the game, is very, very good.
“He’s a legend of this football club, but to be able to step back in and be a coach… I took a lot for myself learning from him in that period as a coach, and taking it into my own job that I'm doing now, as well. It is always good to be around good coaches and develop with them.”
Adam, now head of academy player development at Burnley, is one of few to have a shared history with both Everton and Liverpool and, on Reds and Blues coming together for the Game4Hope, he said: “I think that's something this city is special for, the two football clubs join forces in any moment they can. There's a huge rivalry off the pitch within the supporters and in the Premier League.
“But with things like this, they come together and they put on a good show. They're amazing people, Scousers, and they have come here to support the players here, red or blue.”
Adam added his six months at Everton had allowed him to understand the passion that runs through the club and its fanbase. He said: “It is a proud football club and when you get inside it you understand what the football club's about, and the traditions.
“I was here when they left their stadium to go to the new stadium and it's a proud stadium. I played here many times and let's say, it's old, but there's a real good feeling of history when you come back here.”