Former Liverpool, Stoke and Blackpool midfielder Adam, 38, took charge at Highbury last Sunday, just hours after the shock termination of Lee Johnson’s 111-day reign.
It is the Scot’s first managerial post following his retirement as a player in 2022, but preparations have long been underway.
Adam started his coaching badges during his playing days and has spent the last two years in a variety of backroom roles at Turf Moor, where he watched in awe as Kompany orchestrated last season’s romp to the Championship title.
“I knew Vincent, of course, but not personally, ” says Adam, who worked as an Under-21 coach before taking up a post as loans manager. “It was only from playing against him when he was at Manchester City and I was at Stoke and Liverpool.
“But I knew his assistant Craig Bellamy from playing with him at Liverpool and that connection was key to getting me in and around the first-team environment.
“That gave me the opportunity to speak to the manager and watch him work, which was a real eye-opener for me as a coach.
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