Darren Young (Scottish footballer)

For other people named Darren Young, see Darren Young (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Darin Young.
Darren Young
Personal information
Full name Darren Young
Date of birth (1978-10-13) 13 October 1978
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Playing position Midfielder
Club 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)
1996 → 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)
National team
1997–2000 Scotland U21 7 (0)
Teams managed
2014– Albion Rovers

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and 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 three 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 2011–12 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

Manager

Albion Rovers

Individual

Managerial statistics

As of 3 December 2016
Team Nat From To Record
GWDLWin %
Albion Rovers Scotland June 2014 Present 102 44 23 35 43.14

References

  1. ↑ "Celtic 3–0 Dunfermline". BBC News. 25 September 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  2. ↑ "Pars set to unveil signings". The Courier. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  3. ↑ "Young completes Dundee transfer". BBC Sport. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2008.
  4. ↑ "Dundee aim to axe 16 from squad". BBC Sport. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  5. ↑ "Young on trial at Morton". Scottish Football League. 21 October 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  6. ↑ "Darren Young signs". Greenock Morton FC. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  7. ↑ Stewart, Craig (4 July 2011). "Alloa bring in experienced Brian Kerr". The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  8. ↑ "Darren Young replaces James Ward as Albion Rovers boss". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  9. ↑ Paterson, Colin (28 July 2014). "Penalty shoot-out joy for Albion Rovers at Airdrieonians in Challenge Cup". Daily Record. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ Smith, Kenny (19 January 2011). "Derek's a man for all seasons". Rutherglen Reformer. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  12. ↑ "Darren Young named League 1 Manager of the Month". The Scotsman. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  13. ↑ "Albion Rovers player/manager Darren Young picks up League Two top boss prize". BBC Sport. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2015.

External links

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