Indian Super League (ISL) Shield winners Jamshedpur FC on Sunday announced the signing of their new head coach Aidy Boothroyd from England.
He is the second Englishman to coach the Jamshedpur side after Steve Coppell, who was with the team in their maiden season in 2017-18.
Boothroyd began coaching since 2005 from the age of 34 when he took over Watford City and helped the team to secure promotion to Premier League for the 2005-06 season. He stayed at Watford for three more seasons during which time the team also made the semifinals of FA Cup in 2007.
Following his departure in 2008, Boothroyd managed several other English clubs like Colchester United, Coventry City and Northampton Town and then took the role at the English Football Association (FA) to manage the youth teams.
At Jamshedpur FC, Boothroyd will have big boots to fill as he will be replacing Owen Coyle who left the club after helping them finish on top of the league last season. Not only did they win the League Winners’ Shield but they also broke numerous records in the process including the most number of wins in a season.
While the task of bettering the performance of the Scot won’t be easy, the Englishman is hopeful of continuing to rise upwards.
“Jamshedpur FC are the champions of India currently and the city has a tremendous football legacy. We want to continue this upward trajectory and make the club reach places and win honors that our fans are dreaming of. We want to take the club to the next level and to compete really with the top teams of Asia,” said Boothroyd in a statement.
A coach of attacking mindset, Boothroyd has worked with the likes of Ben Chilwell, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Jordan Pickford and Aaron Wan-Bissaka during his stint with The FA.
Even during his stay at Jamshedpur, he is looking to work on development of players besides making some good recruitments. His biggest task will be to replace last season’s best player Greg Stewart, who has signed a two-year deal with Mumbai City FC.
“We have to be able to evolve the team, continue developing our players, improve all departments, generate even more connection with our fans at the Furnace, recruit top, top talent along with the best people for this club to drive this project to that level,” said the Englishman.
While he is well aware of what needs to be done, he also understands that managing a champion side will be quite challenging and that there will be high expectations from the fans. Despite that he is confident of continuing his attacking approach during his stay at JFC.
“We will always try to win rather than draw games. I’m not a defensive coach. When the time is right to be defensive, I will be defensive. I prefer to think myself as an attacking coach. I like to put pressure on the opponents to score goals and make it enjoyable to watch for the fans,” the coach further said during a press conference on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Jamshedpur FC CEO Mukul Choudhary said during the interaction that the team’s preseason will start from the third week of August in the Steel City.
He is the second Englishman to coach the Jamshedpur side after Steve Coppell, who was with the team in their maiden season in 2017-18.
Boothroyd began coaching since 2005 from the age of 34 when he took over Watford City and helped the team to secure promotion to Premier League for the 2005-06 season. He stayed at Watford for three more seasons during which time the team also made the semifinals of FA Cup in 2007.
Following his departure in 2008, Boothroyd managed several other English clubs like Colchester United, Coventry City and Northampton Town and then took the role at the English Football Association (FA) to manage the youth teams.
At Jamshedpur FC, Boothroyd will have big boots to fill as he will be replacing Owen Coyle who left the club after helping them finish on top of the league last season. Not only did they win the League Winners’ Shield but they also broke numerous records in the process including the most number of wins in a season.
While the task of bettering the performance of the Scot won’t be easy, the Englishman is hopeful of continuing to rise upwards.
“Jamshedpur FC are the champions of India currently and the city has a tremendous football legacy. We want to continue this upward trajectory and make the club reach places and win honors that our fans are dreaming of. We want to take the club to the next level and to compete really with the top teams of Asia,” said Boothroyd in a statement.
A coach of attacking mindset, Boothroyd has worked with the likes of Ben Chilwell, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Jordan Pickford and Aaron Wan-Bissaka during his stint with The FA.
Even during his stay at Jamshedpur, he is looking to work on development of players besides making some good recruitments. His biggest task will be to replace last season’s best player Greg Stewart, who has signed a two-year deal with Mumbai City FC.
“We have to be able to evolve the team, continue developing our players, improve all departments, generate even more connection with our fans at the Furnace, recruit top, top talent along with the best people for this club to drive this project to that level,” said the Englishman.
While he is well aware of what needs to be done, he also understands that managing a champion side will be quite challenging and that there will be high expectations from the fans. Despite that he is confident of continuing his attacking approach during his stay at JFC.
“We will always try to win rather than draw games. I’m not a defensive coach. When the time is right to be defensive, I will be defensive. I prefer to think myself as an attacking coach. I like to put pressure on the opponents to score goals and make it enjoyable to watch for the fans,” the coach further said during a press conference on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Jamshedpur FC CEO Mukul Choudhary said during the interaction that the team’s preseason will start from the third week of August in the Steel City.