In February 2001, Norwich appointed their first youth team coach for 15 years when they announced Adrian Boothroyd would replace Keith Webb. 30 year old Adrian joins from Peterborough where he had been Assistant Academy Director under Kit Carson. Despite his young age, Adrian already holds an UEFA A class coaching certificate. Adrian joined Peterborough as a player from Manfield. Earlier in his career, he had played for Bristol Rovers, Hudderfield and Hearts.

In October 2003, he surprised the Canaries by quitting their successful Academy (Ryan Jarvis, Ian Henderson, Dean Sinclair, Jason Shackell, Joe Lewis etc) to take over as Youth Development Manager at West Bromwich Albion - made all the more surprising by the fact that WBA do not have Academy status. Sammy Morgan will manage the day-to-day coaching of Norwich's Under-19s in the interim period

He quit the Baggies for Leeds United in July 2004 when he was offered the chance to join Kevin Blackwell's first team coaching squad.

On 29th March 2005, Watford surprisingly named Boothroyd as successor to manager Ray Lewington who had been sacked the previous week. he signed a 12month rolling contract. Experienced Keith Burkinshaw, the former Tottenham and West Brom boss, was named Boothroyd's number two. Boothroyd, who included Hornets former joint stand-in boss Nigel Gibbs and reserve team manager David Hockaday in his back-room staff, said: "I've been working for this moment for a long time. I'm absolutely delighted - I have fallen on my feet." Watford chairman Graham Simpson said: "The board were unanimous in
recognising Adrian's potential to become a great new, young manager." Boothroyd has departed Elland Road with the blessing of manager Kevin
Blackwell. He said: "I would never stand in Adrian's way when it comes to taking up a managerial vacancy. He has been a very valuable member of the coaching staff and we will all miss the experience he brought to his job and his jovial character."

Watford's impressive 2005/6 campaign saw Adrian linked by many papers on 11th December 2005 with the managerial vacancy at Southampton following Harry Redknapp's resignation and return to Portsmouth. Instead, Adrian signed a four year contract with the Hornets and led them to the Championship play-offs where they defeated Crystal Palace in the semi-finals before beating Leeds 3-0 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, to win a place in the Premiership.

In March 2007, The Sun suggested that Boothroyd might take over running the England Under-21 team from Man City's Stuart Pearce.

Despite Watford's relegation back into the Championship at the end of the 2006/7 season, Aidy was awarded an extension to his contract until 2010.