Adrian Heath, a former Sheffield United player and manager, has spoken up about the harrowing three-day kidnapping he experienced in November 2025.

Heath, who played only one game for the Blades, was manager at Bramall Lane for 18 games in 1999/2000. The 65-year-old managed South Yorkshire while they were in the First Division, followed by two temporary periods at Coventry City in 2005 and 2007.

After gaining his first experience of managing with Burnley, the former Stoke City midfielder rose to prominence in the United States throughout the 2010s, spending six years in the developing divisions with Austin Aztex and Orlando City before taking over as head coach of Orlando in the Major League Soccer in 2015.

Heath subsequently spent eight years at Minnesota United, where he was fired in 2023. He had been out of employment since then and traveled to Morocco in November for a job interview, but was abducted and held for ransom.

Adrian Heath comes out following a kidnapping incident in Morocco.

It was a moment that will stay with the out-of-work head coach for the rest of his life, as the FBI in the United States became involved. He flew to Morocco to meet a “sheikh” who he thought owned several businesses and hotels in the area.

Heath’s world was flipped upside down when he arrived in a little coastal town and was greeted by three men in a room, one of whom told him: “You plainly know that this isn’t what you expected. Here’s how it will work: you’ll send us money. And if you don’t, you will never see your wife again. “You won’t see your two children and grandchildren.””I started thinking about all the positive aspects of my life,” he said. “She’s my wife. My children. My grandchildren.

The former Sheffield United player went on to tell The Athletic that the group demanded money, a six-figure number, and forced the 65-year-old to call his wife, Jane, who informed his kidnappers that she was unable to transfer the funds.

He informed the men, “Listen, I’m not sure how this will finish, but the basic line is that you won’t get any money. You can see that the only way you’ll get any money is if I go home and wire it to you. From there, you’ll have to trust me, but that’s where we stand.”

Adrian Heath describes how he was saved.

The situation was severe, but a choice made by Adrian’s son Harrison Heath, who played in the MLS and spent time in Norwich City’s academy, proved crucial. They investigated the whereabouts of his phone and informed the FBI.

After three days, the former Blades manager was escorted to an airport before flying back to the United States, where he was reunited with his family. He recounted his relief at eventually making it home: “This sounds crazy, but I’m going to use the word ‘lucky.'” How fortunate we were.

“According to the FBI, you are extremely fortunate to have returned.”At times, it appears bizarre. It felt like the longest and shortest three days of my life. It allows everyone to examine their lives and what is truly important. And the most essential thing is your family. Everything else is secondary. I have a newfound appreciation for how good our lives are and how fortunate I have been.