Former Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd takes temporary charge of England Under-21s

Former Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd has been promoted to take charge of the England Under-21s following the appointment of Gareth Southgate as the interim senior team manager.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Sep 2016, 13:22 BST
Updated 4th Oct 2016, 13:56 BST
Former Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd will take temporary charge of the England Under-21sFormer Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd will take temporary charge of the England Under-21s
Former Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd will take temporary charge of the England Under-21s

England Under-20 coach Boothroyd will take charge of the Under-21s for their final two Euro Qualifiers next month, with Southgate taking charge of first team affairs following this week's departure of Sam Allardyce.

England's youngsters face a trip to Kazakhstan next Thursday (October 6), before playing Bosnia & Herzegovina at Walsall's Bescot Stadium on Tuesday, October 11.

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Boothroyd will be aiming to secure the team's place at next summer’s Euro Finals in Poland, knowing a point will be enough to see England finish top of their group.

Aidy Boothroyd pictured during his final match in charge of the Cobblers, a 4-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers at Sixfields in December, 2013Aidy Boothroyd pictured during his final match in charge of the Cobblers, a 4-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers at Sixfields in December, 2013
Aidy Boothroyd pictured during his final match in charge of the Cobblers, a 4-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers at Sixfields in December, 2013

The former Town boss was set to coach his Under-20s team for their three games against Netherlands, Germany and USA at the same time, but they will now be led by Boothroyd’s assistant coach Paul Williams.

Boothroyd told www.thefa.com: "Gareth and the players have done a terrific to put us in the position that we’re in, so I’m looking forward to the challenge of taking it on.

"That’s mixed with a disappointment of how it has all come about, but it’s about moving onwards and cracking on with the job, supporting Gareth and seeing if I can contribute towards getting the points that are required and then hand it back over, that’s the plan.

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"We’re in a position, where the U21s are running a really smooth ship so I’ll keep it going in the same direction and work to finish the job off which has been done really well so far.

Aidy Boothroyd pictured during his final match in charge of the Cobblers, a 4-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers at Sixfields in December, 2013Aidy Boothroyd pictured during his final match in charge of the Cobblers, a 4-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers at Sixfields in December, 2013
Aidy Boothroyd pictured during his final match in charge of the Cobblers, a 4-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers at Sixfields in December, 2013

"It really is a case of keeping it nice and steady and guiding them over the line – that’s my role."

Boothroyd was Cobblers manager from November, 2011 through to December, 2013.

He enjoyed a good start to his spell at Sixfields, and guided the team to the league two play-off final in May, 2013, but his team were thumped 3-0 by Bradford City at Wembley Stadium.

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Things went badly awry the following season, and Boothroyd was sacked following a 4-1 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in December, 2013.

He was handed a 'national coach' job within the Football Association in February, 2014, and has since managed the Under-19s and the Under-20s.

Related topics:Gareth SouthgateCobblersPaul WilliamsSam Allardyce