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ony Adams turns 50 next month, and admits that, at one stage of his life, he was not even sure that he would live to see his 30th birthday.

His struggles with alcohol more than two decades ago was the stuff of tabloid headlines before the former England captain managed to straighten himself out, later on setting up his own charity to help athletes overcome addiction.

Now, as he gets settled in as the sport director for Chinese Super League club Chongqing Lifan FC, the Arsenal legend said he is full of optimism and gratitude for the latest chapter in his remarkable career that now takes him to Asia for the first time.

“I am really happy to be in Chongqing to experience another new, exciting adventure,” Adams told ESPN FC in an exclusive interview.

“I have been looking around for opportunities for a while now, and I have had a fantastic reception here in Chongqing. The fans are very knowledgeable about football,” he added.

After six years as manager, and later sporting director, for Azerbaijan’s Gabala FK, Adams was primed for an emotional return to Arsenal when he took over as under-18 coach in early July after the departure of his former teammate Thierry Henry. However, as he explained, it was never intended to be a permanent move, despite reports to the contrary.

“I said to [Arsenal head of academy] Andries Jonker that I would help out with the U18s,” Adams said. “But it was only for a month, in between jobs, for free.”

Adams had been eyeing opportunities in Asia for the past couple of years — he was linked to head coaching positions in two Southeast Asian nations and at one Japanese club — but his move to China at the end of July was solidified after a meeting with Chongqing officials at Euro 2016 who were interested in having the four-time English title winner help transform their mid-table Chinese Super League (CSL) club.

“Sir Alex Ferguson once said ‘Don’t pick your club, pick your owner’,” Adams said. “I met the president of the company, which manages the club, at the Euros. I was impressed by his humility, and I felt he was someone that I could work for.”

For the past decade, Chongqing had bounced between the top two divisions of Chinese football, and now sits in 10th place in the 16-team CSL. The club now has enormous potential, given its impressive Olympic Sports Center home ground and the sheer size of the fan base. Last season, Chongqing averaged a home crowd of 37,595.

With a metro population of 30 million, the city of Chongqing is southwest China’s largest, and more than three times the size of London. Yet, many Premier League fans have heard of it, let alone know where it is on a map.

“Chongqing is a huge challenge, but a challenge that I think I can achieve with a bit of time, patience and by taking it step-by-step,” he said.

“I would like, over the next three to five years, to make Lifan a stable, top-half of the table Super League team. I have already caused waves in the infrastructure, but there’s a long way to go.”

Moving to China may mean a culture shock for many, but not for Adams, who had travelled extensively since leaving Portsmouth after a short stint as manager there in Feb. 2009. His six years with Gabala FK was the perfect boot camp for an Englishman exploring new frontiers in football.

“Gabala was a remote, little village in the Caucasus, and that experience has helped me a great deal,” he explained. “I’ve found that staying open to different cultures, and not forcing your opinions on other people, goes a long way.”

Like John Barnes or Alan Shearer, Adams’ broad appeal connects different eras of English football. Few Chinese fans have ever travelled to England to watch a game, but many are aware of the bronze statue built in Adams’ honor at the Emirates Stadium.

“It was great going back to help out Arsenal over the summer and it really didn’t feel like I had ever been away. I pray that one day I will help out with the first team.”

On turning 50 on Oct. 10, Adams has a sense of perspective when he reflects on his brush with death in Azerbaijan, soon after his 49th birthday last year.

After a routine workout, Adams felt intense chest pain. An angiogram revealed a severely blocked artery, and he underwent an emergency operation. He is fine now, and determined to make the most of every day as he builds from the bottom up in China.

“I know full well that without the brilliance of Dr. Uzeyir Rahimov and his medical team in Baku, I would not be here today,” he said.

“But then again, I didn’t think I was going to make 30 years old, so it’s all a bonus really.”