PANAJI: Coaches generally avoid assignments at clubs which have had big success the previous season, yet the temptation of being the head coach at Jamshedpur FC was too much to resist for Aidy Boothroyd.
The former England under-21 and Watford FC boss was announced as the Jamshedpur coach on Sunday and knows the challenge at hand.
"I know it's not going to be easy," Boothroyd told TOI during an online interaction on Sunday. "You should never go to a job that is very successful. To try and win after winning could be the hardest thing to do. But I am excited about the challenges here."
Jamshedpur won the ISL League Winners' Shield last season under Owen Coyle, who opted not to continue in India due to personal reasons. The club's race to the top of the ISL ladder took many by surprise and was largely fashioned by their coach who brought the best out of the squad.
Boothroyd, 51, has spoken with Coyle, even former Jamshedpur coach Steve Coppell. But while their words are encouraging, he will start with the handicap of not having Greg Stewart, the club's outstanding player from last season.
With 10 goals and 10 assists on debut in India, Stewart was the primary reason why Jamshedpur went far last season.
"Greg is a top player. He is the best goal scorer, best assists provider. But you have to be prepared for change, and in football, things change very quickly. We will be refreshing the squad for success, with some new players into the fold. Not too many, because of the good work that they did last season," said Boothroyd, who has also coached Colchester United, Coventry City and Northampton Town.
For now, only two foreign players - Peter Hartley and Eli Sabia - have existing contracts, while the coach needs to take a call on the others. He's already started his search, primarily finding Stewart's replacement.
"There is still a little bit of work to do, not too much. We are closing in on a couple of players in the next one week," said Boothroyd, when asked about Stewart's replacement.
Jamshedpur have never had the best squad, at least on paper, so Boothroyd will have to work his magic, like he famously did at Watford when he took them from the lower division to the Premier League. His stint with the England FA has also been fruitful, working with players like Ben Chilwell, Calum Hudson-Odoi, Trent Alexander Arnold, Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount.
"Club and international football are very different jobs. With international games, you don't have too much time to get the players mentally, physically and socially ready to play. I prefer to work with the players on a daily basis. Here (at the club) you are in-charge of your own destiny. In international football, you generally get players from six to seven different clubs with different coaches having different philosophies.
"My philosophy is to get the best out of the players that I am coaching. Make them individually better. For example, my team at Watford was not technically the best, but physically and mentally we were very strong with key players in key positions," said Boothroyd.
Boothroyd will need a similar plan at Jamshedpur.
