FORMER Premier League boss Aidy Boothroyd has opened up on his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s.
Boothroyd, 54, released an emotional video and statement through the League Managers Association – revealing he has quietly been battling the disease for three years.
GettyAidy Boothroyd has revealed that he is battling Parkinson’s[/caption]
LMABoothroyd discussed his diagnosis in an emotional video[/caption]
A statement read: “Three years ago, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
“The news came as a massive shock to me, following what I expected to be my routine LMA Annual Health Assessment.
“It has taken me time to feel ready to share my diagnosis, and I have found it difficult not being completely open with people.
“Personally, my passion and love for coaching is as strong as ever, I am focusing on keeping physically fit, which is key to slowing down the progression of Parkinson’s.
“I am ready to start the next chapter in my life. I would like to thank the LMA and Parkinson’s UK for their support.”
Boothroyd, who previously spent five years as head coach of the England U21 side, revealed that he was diagnosed in November 2021.
And the retired defender recalled the shock of finding out that he has Parkinson’s.
He said: “I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t really know what Parkinson’s was. I was in a position where I just kept thinking about my kids. I just wasn’t sure what was next.
Aidy Boothroyd’s career
A brief look into the coaching career of Aidy Boothroyd…
1. Watford
Dates Managed: March 2005 – November 2008
Games Played: 184
Games Won: 75
Boothroyd took over Watford in March 2005 and led them to promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs in 2006. However, they were relegated after one season in the top flight. He left the club in November 2008.
2. Colchester United
Dates Managed: September 2009 – May 2010
Games Played: 46
Games Won: 14
Boothroyd joined Colchester United in League One and managed them for less than a season. He left the club in May 2010 to take over at Coventry City.
3. Coventry City
Dates Managed: June 2010 – March 2011
Games Played: 38
Games Won: 10
Boothroyd managed Coventry City in the Championship but was let go in March 2011.
4. Northampton Town
Dates Managed: November 2011 – January 2014
Games Played: 106
Games Won: 38
Boothroyd took charge of Northampton Town in League Two. He led them to the play-off final in the 2012–13 season.
5. England U20s
Dates Managed: February 2015 – August 2016
Games Played: 19
Games Won: 8
Boothroyd transitioned to international management with the England U20 team, working with young talent but achieving mixed results during his tenure.
6. England U21s
Dates Managed: September 2016 – June 2021
Games Played: 56
Games Won: 34
Boothroyd became manager of England’s U21 team, guiding them to the semi-finals of the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. However, his tenure ended in 2021 after poor performances in the 2021 tournament.
Summary of Managerial Career Stats:
Total Games Played: 449
Total Games Won: 179
“I was shocked. I was dumbstruck, really. I’ve kept very quiet about it. I wanted to do it.”
Boothroyd explained how the disease has caused ‘facial masking’, a medical sign of Parkinson’s where sufferers are left with a reduced degree of facial expressions as facial muscles become stiff or less responsive.
He added: “Probably the biggest one that I’ve noticed the most is facial masking. Facial masking is when the dopamine in the brain can’t always get to the body, particularly in the facial muscles.
“My face could be, in my opinion, outwardly smiling, but actually it’s not doing that at all.
“I’m absolutely convinced that this facial masking that I’ve had, if I’m going for an interview, people will then ask me the questions. I look. I’ve had people say to me, ‘are you alright? Is everything okay? You’re not your normal self.’
“I’ve had so many people say, you’re not your normal self. You’re a bit quiet, which is all part of the Parkinson’s. Nothing could be further from the truth.
“I’m enthusiastic. I’m excited. I still enjoy the job and working with people. But that was a tough one to take.”
The Bradford-born coach even opened up on how hard it has been to carry the burden of knowing his diagnosis without sharing it with so many people.
He explained: “To be honest, it’s been a burden. It’s taken me three years to come to this position.
“As I said earlier, I’ve got a lot of well wishes, a lot of people that are friends of mine that ask, ‘are you feeling okay Aidy?’
“And having to carry that around with you, it’s tough. And it is a bit like my life’s been on hold. For all of us really, for my family, for my kids, people have just wanted to be helpful, and that’s great.
“I don’t want to wallow, I don’t want pity. What I want is to get back on the pitch, or wherever it is I end up doing, whatever it is that I do. But I won’t let this define me.
“I’ll continue, I’ll keep fit, I’ll do what I’ve got to do in the gym, and hopefully I can get a job with a purpose.
“But for now, it’s about getting this off my chest, and see if I can help and bring awareness to more people about this condition.”
LMA CEO Richard Bevan praised Boothroyd for displaying “incredible positivity, resolve and determination” since his diagnosis.
Boothroyd has been without a managerial role since leaving Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC in 2023.
His coaching career has seen him hold roles with Watford, Colchester, Coventry and Northampton Town – managing in every professional league in England.
While his time with the FA saw him manage the Young Lions across U19, U20 and U21 levels.
Everything you need to know about Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition, meaning that it causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time.
It affects around 153,000 people in the UK.
People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of the chemical dopamine because some of the nerve cells that make it have stopped working.
This can cause a range of more than 40 symptoms, but the three main ones are:
Tremor (shaking)
Slow movement
Rigidity (muscle stiffness)
Other common signs include:
Mild memory and thinking problems
Trouble sleeping
Issues with balance
Pain
Anxiety and depression
Shuffling walk with very small steps
Difficulty making facial expressions
Loss of sense of smell
Problems peeing
Constipation
The four main ways of managing Parkinson’s include medication, staying active, exploring occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech and language therapy, and monitoring symptoms.
Source: Parkinson’s UK and NHS
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