7 players discovered by Steve Rowley as legendary Arsenal talent spotter passes away

Arsenal's fans and former players have been paying tribute after the club confirmed former chief scout Steve Rowley has died at the age of 63.

Rowley took over as chief scout in 1996, after Arsene Wenger's appointment as manager of the north London side. He remained in the role until 2017, with Wenger leaving his own post the following year.

He began as a youth scout at Arsenal, ultimately spending more than 35 years with the club in a variety of roles. Over that time, Rowley played his part in discovering a number of players who would go onto great things at Arsenal, and has picked out some of the best.

Adams was one of the young talents who broke into the team in the 1980s, before Rowley moved into the role he occupied under Wenger. He was one of two academy stars name-checked by Arsenal in their tribute to the scout, who was still in a part-time role when the defender's talent was identified.

The centre-back was just 17 when he made his Arsenal debut, and ended up spending his entire career with the club. his 504 league games included 26 in the 1997-98 season, when the Gunners won their first Premier League title under Wenger, and he had also played a part as Arsenal won the old First Division in 1989 and 1991.

“I was a bit naïve at the time because it was my first boy,” Rowley said in 2015. “Anyway I approached him at the West Ham training ground, which you couldn’t do now of course - I wouldn’t get through the doors for a start - and I asked his dad Alex if he would be interested in bringing him over."

The second name mentioned by Arsenal in their tribute, Parlour joined the Arsenal academy thanks to Rowley. He spent more than a decade with the club and has more Premier League appearances for the club