Adrian Boothroyd
Encyclopedia
Adrian Neil "Aidy" Boothroyd (born 8 February 1971 in Baildon, West Yorkshire
) is an English
former footballer
and is currently managing Northampton Town after being sacked as manager
of Coventry City on March 14, 2011. He was manager
of Watford
of the Championship
until 3 November 2008. At the time of his departure, he was the youngest and the second longest serving manager in the division. He replaces Gary Johnson at Northampton Town, after his much speculated appointment was confirmed on the 30th November 2011.
, Bristol Rovers
, Hearts
, Mansfield Town
and Peterborough United
. His playing career ended at the premature age of 26 due to injury.
He started as a youth team player at Huddersfield and made his first team debut for the club in 1989. He played 10 league matches before moving on to Bristol Rovers in 1990, where he played 16 games. After a short spell at Hearts, he signed for Mansfield Town, where he played 102 matches, scoring 3 goals in the process. He left the club in 1996 to play for Peterborough. Boothroyd unfortunately picked up a career ending injury after playing 26 games and scoring a single goal. He retired from the game in 1998.
, Boothroyd was appointed coach of the Under 17, Under 19 and reserve teams at the club. His tactical nous and drive impressed, and he left Peterborough in 2001 to join Norwich City
as their youth team coach under Nigel Worthington
. After two years at Carrow Road
, Boothroyd assumed the positions of Youth Development Officer and Technical Director at West Bromwich Albion
, joining in October 2003. A short spell at The Hawthorns
ended when he was appointed first-team coach at Leeds United in July 2004,
in March 2005 at the age of 34. The board backed their decision despite initial scepticism by Watford fans and the club entered a new era under Boothroyd. He managed to steer the club clear of relegation, with 1–0 victories over Stoke City
and Rotherham United
.
At the beginning of the 2005–06 season
, Boothroyd signalled his intentions by declaring that his aim for the forthcoming campaign would be promotion to the Premier League. As the season progressed, Boothroyd's side gained more and more confidence, and come the end of the season, had cemented a place in the play-offs. After overcoming Crystal Palace
in the two-legged semi-final, Boothroyd's team came up against the club where he used to coach; Leeds United. Watford won 3–0 and claimed a place in the top league of English football. The rapid improvement in Watford's results in his first season in charge led to Boothroyd winning the Championship Manager of the Month in February 2006. Boothroyd continued as Watford manager for the duration of the 2006–07 Premier League season, but Watford finished 20th and were relegated. Nevertheless, Watford reached the FA Cup
semi-finals, and Boothroyd was awarded a new three-year contract.
A good start to the 2007–08 season
saw Watford nine points clear at the top of the Championship after twelve games. The good form saw Boothroyd named Championship Manager of the Month for October 2007 after Watford maintained a 100% record. However this could not be sustained and a poor run of form in second half of the season saw Boothroyd coming in for criticism for his team selections, direct style of play
and dealings in the transfer market. One win in thirteen going into the last game of the season saw Watford in danger of missing out on a play-off spot altogether but a 1–1 draw against Blackpool
was enough to secure sixth place on goal difference ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers
. In their play-off semi-final against Hull City
Watford lost 2–0 at Vicarage Road
and 4–1 at the KC Stadium
.
After missing out on an immediate return to Premier League, Boothroyd announced his intention re-build the side for next season, and also change the team's style of play. However, he left Watford by mutual consent on 3 November 2008.
. In his first game as Colchester boss the team drew 0 – 0 with Southampton
and the team won five of the first nine games in his charge. The first defeat came in his 10th game in a 2 – 1 defeat to Millwall
.
His first signing as Colchester boss was the loan of John-Joe O'Toole
and his first permanent signing was Kayode Odejayi
. O'Toole was subsequently signed on a permanent basis and he also signed David Prutton
from Leeds, Ian Henderson from Ankaragucu (Turkey)
and Morten Knudsen from Norway. Boothroyd added another loan signing with Franck Queudrue
arriving on loan from Birmingham
.
Colchester, under Boothroyd, were in the top 6 for over half of the campaign. However, a poor run of form towards the end of the season which saw them win only 2 games of their last 14 games, and this saw them drop just outside the play-offs and finish in 8th position in Coca-Cola League One. At this time, Boothroyd indicated his intentions to cull the squad and remove some "dead wood" to put together another promotion push. On May 20th 2010, Boothroyd left the club to take over Championship side Coventry City.
. His first game in charge was on 7 August, in which Boothroyd led Coventry City to an opening day victory over Portsmouth
with both goals from Freddy Eastwood
.
On 14 March 2011, Boothroyd was sacked by Coventry City after a run of poor results which saw the club win only once in sixteen league games.
with his wife Emma and their children,Nathan and Cerys.
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and is currently managing Northampton Town after being sacked as manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
of Coventry City on March 14, 2011. He was manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
of Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
of the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
until 3 November 2008. At the time of his departure, he was the youngest and the second longest serving manager in the division. He replaces Gary Johnson at Northampton Town, after his much speculated appointment was confirmed on the 30th November 2011.
Playing career
As a player Boothroyd was a lower division full back, who played for Huddersfield TownHuddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
, Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
, Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
and Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
. His playing career ended at the premature age of 26 due to injury.
He started as a youth team player at Huddersfield and made his first team debut for the club in 1989. He played 10 league matches before moving on to Bristol Rovers in 1990, where he played 16 games. After a short spell at Hearts, he signed for Mansfield Town, where he played 102 matches, scoring 3 goals in the process. He left the club in 1996 to play for Peterborough. Boothroyd unfortunately picked up a career ending injury after playing 26 games and scoring a single goal. He retired from the game in 1998.
Coaching career
After ending his playing career at Peterborough UnitedPeterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, Boothroyd was appointed coach of the Under 17, Under 19 and reserve teams at the club. His tactical nous and drive impressed, and he left Peterborough in 2001 to join Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
as their youth team coach under Nigel Worthington
Nigel Worthington
Nigel Worthington is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and manager.He was manager of the Northern Ireland national team from 2007 until after their final Euro 2012 qualifying campaign match against Italy in October 2011.As a player, he was a left full back and occasional left...
. After two years at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
, Boothroyd assumed the positions of Youth Development Officer and Technical Director at West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, joining in October 2003. A short spell at The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
ended when he was appointed first-team coach at Leeds United in July 2004,
Watford
He was appointed manager of WatfordWatford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in March 2005 at the age of 34. The board backed their decision despite initial scepticism by Watford fans and the club entered a new era under Boothroyd. He managed to steer the club clear of relegation, with 1–0 victories over Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
.
At the beginning of the 2005–06 season
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
, Boothroyd signalled his intentions by declaring that his aim for the forthcoming campaign would be promotion to the Premier League. As the season progressed, Boothroyd's side gained more and more confidence, and come the end of the season, had cemented a place in the play-offs. After overcoming Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in the two-legged semi-final, Boothroyd's team came up against the club where he used to coach; Leeds United. Watford won 3–0 and claimed a place in the top league of English football. The rapid improvement in Watford's results in his first season in charge led to Boothroyd winning the Championship Manager of the Month in February 2006. Boothroyd continued as Watford manager for the duration of the 2006–07 Premier League season, but Watford finished 20th and were relegated. Nevertheless, Watford reached the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-finals, and Boothroyd was awarded a new three-year contract.
A good start to the 2007–08 season
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
saw Watford nine points clear at the top of the Championship after twelve games. The good form saw Boothroyd named Championship Manager of the Month for October 2007 after Watford maintained a 100% record. However this could not be sustained and a poor run of form in second half of the season saw Boothroyd coming in for criticism for his team selections, direct style of play
Long ball (Football)
Long ball is the term used in association football to describe an attempt, often speculative, to distribute the ball a long distance down the field via a cross, without the intention to pass it to the feet of the receiving player.It is a technique that can be especially effective for a team with...
and dealings in the transfer market. One win in thirteen going into the last game of the season saw Watford in danger of missing out on a play-off spot altogether but a 1–1 draw against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
was enough to secure sixth place on goal difference ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. In their play-off semi-final against Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
Watford lost 2–0 at Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
and 4–1 at the KC Stadium
KC Stadium
The KC Stadium, often shortened to the KC, is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull , England. Conceived as early as the late 1990s, it was completed in 2002 at a cost of approximately £44 million. It is named after the stadium's sponsors, telecommunications provider KC,...
.
After missing out on an immediate return to Premier League, Boothroyd announced his intention re-build the side for next season, and also change the team's style of play. However, he left Watford by mutual consent on 3 November 2008.
Colchester United
On Wednesday 2 September 2009, Boothroyd was announced as the new manager of League One side Colchester United, succeeding Paul LambertPaul Lambert
Paul Christopher Lambert is a Scottish football manager and former player who is the manager of Norwich City. He won numerous trophies as a player, winning the Scottish Cup with St...
. In his first game as Colchester boss the team drew 0 – 0 with Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and the team won five of the first nine games in his charge. The first defeat came in his 10th game in a 2 – 1 defeat to Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
.
His first signing as Colchester boss was the loan of John-Joe O'Toole
John-Joe O'Toole
John Joseph "John-Joe" O'Toole is an Irish footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Football League One club Colchester United.-Watford:...
and his first permanent signing was Kayode Odejayi
Kayode Odejayi
Olukayode "Kayode" Odejayi is a Nigerian international footballer. He currently plays for Colchester United as a striker.-Club career:Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Odejayi started his career as a trainee at Bristol City...
. O'Toole was subsequently signed on a permanent basis and he also signed David Prutton
David Prutton
David Thomas Michael Prutton is an English footballer, currently playing for Sheffield Wednesday after leaving Swindon Town, having previously played for Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Leeds United, as well as representing England at Under 21 level 25 times.- Nottingham Forest :Prutton was...
from Leeds, Ian Henderson from Ankaragucu (Turkey)
Ankaragücü
MKE Ankaragücü is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Ankara. The club wears a yellow and navy kit and play their home matches at Ankara 19 Mayis....
and Morten Knudsen from Norway. Boothroyd added another loan signing with Franck Queudrue
Franck Queudrue
Franck Queudrue is a French footballer who plays as a left back for Lens. He began his career with Lens, for whom he played in Ligue 1, and went on to play in the Premier League for Middlesbrough, Fulham and Birmingham City, and in the Football League for Colchester United.-Lens:Queudrue began his...
arriving on loan from Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
.
Colchester, under Boothroyd, were in the top 6 for over half of the campaign. However, a poor run of form towards the end of the season which saw them win only 2 games of their last 14 games, and this saw them drop just outside the play-offs and finish in 8th position in Coca-Cola League One. At this time, Boothroyd indicated his intentions to cull the squad and remove some "dead wood" to put together another promotion push. On May 20th 2010, Boothroyd left the club to take over Championship side Coventry City.
Coventry City
On 20 May 2010, Boothroyd was announced as the new manager of Championship side Coventry City, succeeding Chris ColemanChris Coleman (footballer)
Christopher "Chris" Coleman is a Welsh football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Greek Side Larissa....
. His first game in charge was on 7 August, in which Boothroyd led Coventry City to an opening day victory over Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
with both goals from Freddy Eastwood
Freddy Eastwood
Freddy Eastwood is an English-born footballer, currently playing for Coventry City. He is a Welsh International, eligible to play for the Wales national football team as his maternal grandfather was born in Llanelli, Wales...
.
On 14 March 2011, Boothroyd was sacked by Coventry City after a run of poor results which saw the club win only once in sixteen league games.
Northampton Town
Boothroyd was appointed as manager of Northampton Town on 30 November 2011 on a one year, rolling contract.England Writers Football Team
Boothroyd is a consultant, and honourary manager, to the England Writers Football Team. He has been helping them since May 2009 when he took them for a two day training session. His work with them is on-going as they pit themselves against writers' teams from around the world.Personal Life
Boothroyd currently lives in BromsgroveBromsgrove
Bromsgrove is a town in Worcestershire, England. The town is about north east of Worcester and south west of Birmingham city centre. It had a population of 29,237 in 2001 with a small ethnic minority and is in Bromsgrove District.- History :Bromsgrove is first documented in the early 9th century...
with his wife Emma and their children,Nathan and Cerys.
Watford
- Championship Play-offs Winners 2006
- FA Cup Semi-Finalists 2007
- Championship play off Semi-Finals 2008
Managerial statistics
- As of 30 November 2011.
Team Nat From To Record G W D L Won % Drawn % Lost% Watford Watford F.C.Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
29 March 2005 3 November 2008 176 65 51 60 36.93 28.98 34.09 Colchester United Colchester United F.C.Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... 2 September 2009 20 May 2010 44 19 12 13 43.18 27.91 28.81 Coventry City Coventry City F.C.Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry... 20 May 2010 14 March 2011 39 12 8 19 30.77 20.51 48.72 Northampton Town Northampton Town F.C.Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season... 30 November 2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 0