Darren Young (Scottish footballer)

Darren Young (born 13 October 1978 in Glasgow) is a Scottish football coach who is manager of Scottish League One club East Fife.

For other people named Darren Young, see Darren Young (disambiguation).

Darren Young
Personal information
Full name Darren Young
Date of birth (1978-10-13) 13 October 1978
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 East Fife (manager)
Youth career
Cathkin United
Mill United
1993–1995 Aberdeen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2003 Aberdeen 132 (4)
1995–1996 → 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)
2014–2017 Albion Rovers 28 (2)
2017–2019 East Fife 0 (0)
National team
1997–2000 Scotland U21 7 (0)
Teams managed
2014–2017 Albion Rovers
2017– East Fife
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:34, 3 January 2016 (UTC)

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

Aberdeen

Young grew up in Whitlawburn, Cambuslang and attended Cathkin High School.[1] He started his career at Aberdeen (where he was later to be joined by younger brother Derek), joining the senior squad after a loan spell at 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 to 10, as Aberdeen played FC Nistru Otaci and Hertha BSC Berlin in the 2002–03 UEFA Cup.

Dunfermline Athletic

Darren and his brother Derek both joined Dunfermline Athletic in July 2003, as part of Jimmy Calderwood's new-look side. They were part of the team defeated 3–1 by Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park in May 2004.[2] Young was once again blighted by injuries the following season but helped the Pars retain their SPL status in the 2005–06 season. They also reached the League Cup Final where Celtic again proved too strong - Young scored the winning goal in the semis, but did not play in that final due to a foot injury.[3]

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 the 2007 Scottish Cup Final, Dunfermline and Young lost to Celtic in a major final for the third time in quick succession, with the player receiving the small consolation of the Man of the match award.[3][4] The club had already been relegated from the top division weeks earlier.

After defeat in another cup final, this time in the 2007–08 Scottish Challenge Cup,[3] in May 2008 Young rejected Dunfermline's final contract offer meaning he would leave East End Park after five years with the Pars.[5]

Dundee

In May 2008, Young signed for First Division club Dundee.[6] 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.[7]

Later playing career

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.[8] After playing well in his three games, he was signed until the end of the year.[9] After a dozen league appearances, Young was released in May 2011.

Young signed for Alloa Athletic in July 2011. He was appointed captain and led the team to the Third Division title in the 2011–12 season.[10]

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]

Coaching career

Albion Rovers

Young was appointed player/manager of League Two club Albion Rovers in June 2014.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14][15]

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. They finished the 2015–16 Scottish League One season in sixth place.[16] Towards the end of the 2016–17 season, Albion Rovers announced that Young would leave the club as they had failed to agree a new contract.[16]

East Fife

Shortly after leaving Albion Rovers, Young was appointed manager of Scottish League One club East Fife on 3 June 2017.[17]

Career statistics

Managerial record
As of 9 January 2021
Team From To Record
GWDLWin %
Albion Rovers June 2014 May 2017 124 49 29 46 039.52
East Fife June 2017 Present 138 52 24 62 037.68
Total 262 101 53 108 038.55

Honours and Achievements

Player
Alloa Athletic

Manager
Albion Rovers

Individual

References
  1. "Derek Young's spell in Iceland was a real eye-opener after their success at Euro 2016". Daily Record/Rutherglen Reformer. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  2. "Larsson caps Celtic triumph". BBC Sport. 4 November 1997. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  3. "Young to be part of Morton's push". Scottish Professional Football League. 30 January 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  4. "Celtic 1-0 Dunfermline". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 May 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  5. "Pars set to unveil signings". The Courier. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  6. "Young completes Dundee transfer". BBC Sport. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2008.
  7. "Dundee aim to axe 16 from squad". BBC Sport. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  8. "Young on trial at Morton". Scottish Football League. 21 October 2010. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  9. "Darren Young signs". Greenock Morton FC. 12 November 2010. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  10. Stewart, Craig (4 July 2011). "Alloa bring in experienced Brian Kerr". The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  11. Smith, Kenny (19 January 2011). "Derek's a man for all seasons". Rutherglen Reformer. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  12. "Darren Young replaces James Ward as Albion Rovers boss". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  13. Paterson, Colin (28 July 2014). "Penalty shoot-out joy for Albion Rovers at Airdrieonians in Challenge Cup". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  14. "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.
  15. "Darren Young's a City slicker after getting fan mail from Manchester". Daily Record/Rutherglen Reformer. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  16. "Darren Young: Albion Rovers manager to exit Cliftonhill at end of season". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  17. "Darren Young: East Fife name former Aberdeen midfielder as manager". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  18. "Darren Young named League 1 Manager of the Month". The Scotsman. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  19. "Albion Rovers player/manager Darren Young picks up League Two top boss prize". BBC Sport. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
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