Darren Young (Scottish footballer)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Darren Young | ||
Date of birth | 13 October 1978 | ||
Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Albion Rovers (player/manager) | ||
Youth career | |||
Cathkin United | |||
Mill United | |||
Crombie Sports | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1996–2003 | Aberdeen | 132 | (4) |
? | → Crombie Sports (loan) | ? | (?) |
2003–2008 | Dunfermline Athletic | 124 | (8) |
2008–2010 | Dundee | 12 | (2) |
2010 | Queen of the South (trial) | 2 | (0) |
2010–2011 | Greenock Morton | 12 | (0) |
2011–2014 | Alloa Athletic | 70 | (2) |
2014– | Albion Rovers | 28 | (2) |
International career | |||
1997–2000 | Scotland U21 | 7 | (0) |
Managerial career | |||
2014– | Albion Rovers | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:34, 3 January 2016 (UTC) |
Darren Young (born 13 October 1978 in Glasgow) is a Scottish football player and manager.
Over the course of his career he has also played for Aberdeen, Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic and Greenock Morton. Between his spells at Dundee and Morton, Young played two trial matches for Queen of the South.
In June 2014, Young was appointed player/manager of Scottish League Two club Albion Rovers.
Playing career
Young started his career at Aberdeen (where he was later to be joined by younger brother Derek), signing from Crombie Sports on 29 February 1996. He made a quick impact, making his first team debut against Hearts in August 1996, aged only 17. Young's prodigious development which had seen him awarded several Scotland Under-21 caps was hindered however, by a serious knee injury which required three separate operations to repair.
Young made a successful return to the Aberdeen first team in 2000, by which stage his brother Derek was also an established member of Ebbe Skovdahl's resurgent side. Darren was soon awarded the captaincy and led the 'Dons' to a 4th-place finish in the league in the 2001–02 season. This ensured European football returned to Pittodrie and Young increased his continental appearances for Aberdeen to 10, as the 'Dons' played FC Nistru Otaci and Hertha BSC Berlin in the 2002–03 UEFA Cup.
Darren and brother joined Dunfermline Athletic together in July 2003 as part of Jimmy Calderwood's new-look side and were part of the team defeated 3–1 by Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park in May 2004. Young was once again blighted by injuries the following season but helped the Pars retain their SPL status in the 2005–06 season, as well as reaching League Cup Final where Celtic again proved too strong, beating the Fife side 3–0.[1]
In July 2006, his brother was released by Dunfermline (eventually signing for St Johnstone), ensuring the Young brothers would play separately for the first time in their professional careers. In May 2008, Darren rejected Dunfermline's final contract offer meaning he would leave East End Park at the 2007–08 season, after five years with the Fife side.[2]
In May 2008, Young signed for First Division club Dundee.[3] Young was sent off after 3 minutes into his debut for Dundee, during a league match against Clyde at Broadwood Stadium after pulling back an opponent. He was released by the club on 4 May 2010.[4]
Young featured in two games as a trialist for Dumfries club Queen of the South early in the 2010–11 season, during the reign of Kenny Brannigan's management. In the second game for the Palmerston club he was substituted due to injury after 10 minutes. Young then went on trial at Greenock Morton after a spate of injuries to their midfield. He was offered training facilities and the possibility of trial matches.[5] After playing well in his three games, he was signed until the end of the year.[6] After a dozen league appearances, Young was released in May 2011.
Young signed for Alloa in July 2011. With his vast experience, he was soon appointed captain and led the team to the third division title in the 2011–2012 season.[7]
Coaching career
Young was appointed player/manager of League Two club Albion Rovers in June 2014.[8] In his first match in charge, he scored the winning penalty as Albion Rovers beat Airdrieonians 4–2 on penalties following a 2–2 draw in the Scottish Challenge Cup on 26 July 2014.[9] Young won the League Two championship and promotion in his first season as a manager, sealing the league with a 3–2 win against Clyde.[10]
On getting his team promoted into League One, despite budget restraints and low expectations Young led Albion Rovers to their best start to a third tier season in the club's history, taking 28 points from their first 17 games and placed third.
International career
Young won seven Scotland under-21 caps. He also travelled with the Scotland squad to the 1998 FIFA World Cup as a hamper boy.[11]
Honours and Achievements
Player
- Alloa Athletic
- Scottish Third Division: 2011–12 (fourth tier)
Manager
- Albion Rovers
- Scottish League Two 2014–15 (fourth tier)
Individual
- Albion Rovers
- SPFL League One Manager of the Month (1): October 2015[12]
- SPFL League Two Manager of the Month (1): November 2014[13]
Managerial statistics
- As of 30 April 2016[update]
Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
Albion Rovers | June 2014 | Present | 82 | 37 | 18 | 27 | 45.12 |
References
- ^ "Celtic 3–0 Dunfermline". BBC News. 25 September 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
- ^ "Pars set to unveil signings". The Courier. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
- ^ "Young completes Dundee transfer". BBC Sport. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2008.
- ^ "Dundee aim to axe 16 from squad". BBC Sport. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
- ^ "Young on trial at Morton". Scottish Football League. 21 October 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
- ^ "Darren Young signs". Greenock Morton FC. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
- ^ Stewart, Craig (4 July 2011). "Alloa bring in experienced Brian Kerr". The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ^ "Darren Young replaces James Ward as Albion Rovers boss". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ^ Paterson, Colin (28 July 2014). "Penalty shoot-out joy for Albion Rovers at Airdrieonians in Challenge Cup". Daily Record. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- ^ "Clyde 2 Albion Rovers 3 - Darren Young's side come from two down to clinch title in most dramatic fashion". Sunday Herald. Herald & Times Group. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
- ^ Smith, Kenny (19 January 2011). "Derek's a man for all seasons". Rutherglen Reformer. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
- ^ "Darren Young named League 1 Manager of the Month". The Scotsman. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "Albion Rovers player/manager Darren Young picks up League Two top boss prize". BBC Sport. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
External links
- Darren Young at Soccerbase
- Scotland U21 stats at Fitbastats
- Use dmy dates from August 2013
- 1978 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Glasgow
- Scottish footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Scottish Premier League players
- Aberdeen F.C. players
- Dunfermline Athletic F.C. players
- Queen of the South F.C. players
- Dundee F.C. players
- Greenock Morton F.C. players
- Alloa Athletic F.C. players
- Scottish Football League players
- Scotland under-21 international footballers
- Scottish Professional Football League players
- Scottish football managers
- Albion Rovers F.C. players
- Albion Rovers F.C. managers
- Scottish Professional Football League managers