Aidy Boothroyd reveals Parkinson's disease diagnosis
Aidy Boothroyd has revealed he has Parkinson's disease and that he tried to hide the condition for more than three years.
The 54-year-old said he had been diagnosed in November 2021, seven months after he quit as England Under-21 manager following five years in the role.
Former Watford manager Boothroyd, who has not coached since leaving Indian Super League side Jamshedpur in 2023, said he had been afraid to go public amid fears it would affect his career.
Boothroyd said he had been diagnosed during a visit to a neurologist after what he had expected to be a 'routine' League Managers Association (LMA) annual health assessment.
'I thought everything was fine,' he said. 'And then came the bombshell.
'I remember it well. It was raining, pouring. It was an awful day. And the guy said to me: 'This is a picture of a normal brain and this is the picture of your brain. You can see the difference. You've got Parkinson's. I'm very sorry'. So, I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to say. I didn't really know what Parkinson's was.
'I just kept thinking about my kids. I just wasn't sure what was next. I was shocked. I was dumbstruck, really.
'I've kept very quiet about it. I wasn't ready to share with too many people. A handful of people knew.'
Boothroyd said the most noticeable symptom of his condition has been an inability to smile.
'In my case, probably the biggest one that I've noticed the most is facial masking. So, facial masking is when the dopamine in the brain can't always get to the body, and particularly in the facial muscles. So, my face could be, in my opinion, outwardly smiling, but actually it's not doing that at all.
'If I'm going for an interview, people will then ask me the questions and I'll look and I've had people say to me: 'Are you all right? Is everything OK, Aid? You're not your normal self.' 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.'
Boothroyd went on: 'One of the biggest things I'd change would be to bring more people into my circle, because it can be tough when you're alone. I've chosen to not tell people because I was worried about it. I didn't want people to feel any less of what they thought of me before. So, that's been tough.
'I recently did London-to-Paris on the bike, with my friend Geoff Thomas. And I feel good. I feel fit. I know that the harder I work, the more physically I keep on top of myself, the harder it is for the Parkinson's to worsen.'
Boothroyd said his passion and love for coaching is 'as strong as ever' and that he was 'ready to start the next chapter in my life'.
'I'm not sure, whether, for me, I play a role as a No 2, where I'm there to support,' he said,
'There's a lot of things I think I can do. But something brand new might come out of it. I don't know. I just know that I've got decades of experience.
'I still am in love with the game, despite what my face says sometimes. And I'm privileged to be here, and I've still got a lot to give.
'I think my life's been on hold for three years and I've got a lot of people who want to help and support me, and I've got a lot of people I want to help and support as well.'
Boothroyd added: 'I was worried about how it might affect my chances of getting a job, a role, anywhere. It's been a burden. It's three years it's taken me to come to this position.
'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. But I won't let this define me.'
LMA chief executive Richard Bevan said: 'Aidy has displayed incredible positivity, resolve and determination since his Parkinson's diagnosis three years ago. His passion for football and people drives him on and he continues to play an active role in the LMA, as an almost ever-present senior member at our events and educational sessions.
'We care deeply for all our members, and Aidy's attitude since his diagnosis has been an inspiration to our entire team as we continue to support him and his family throughout this unexpected and challenging time.'
Parkinson's UK CEO Caroline Rassell said: 'Everyone at Parkinson's UK sends Aidy Boothroyd our best wishes and thanks him for raising awareness of Parkinson's by publicly sharing his diagnosis.
'With more than 40 symptoms, Parkinson's is unpredictable and undoubtedly introduces new challenges, but with the right support and staying active for 2.5 hours a week, people can take control of their lives.
'Aidy is now part of a community of 153,000 people in the UK who live with Parkinson's along with the millions of loved ones who support them. We are here to support them all.
'A public Parkinson's diagnosis often encourages people to think about their own health and we would encourage anyone concerned about symptoms to speak to their GP, visit parkinsons.org.uk or call the Parkinson's UK confidential helpline on 0808 800 0303.'
Former Plymouth, Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday manager Paul Sturrock revealed in 2008 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's eight years earlier. He is now 68.
Liverpool legend Ray Kennedy was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's in 1984 at the age of 32. He died in 2021 aged 70.
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