Darren Davies (born 13 August 1978) is a former professional footballer and coach who is currently the assistant manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Darren Davies | ||
| Date of birth | 13 August 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Port Talbot, Wales | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Left back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Al-Ettifaq (assistant) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Tottenham Hotspur | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–???? | Barry Town | ||
| 2000–2001 | Greenock Morton | 22 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | Stirling Albion | 1 | (0) |
| Dover Athletic | |||
| Tiverton Town | |||
| 2004–2005 | Forest Green Rovers | 29 | (0) |
| Merthyr Tydfil | |||
| 2008–2009 | Port Talbot Town | ||
| 2009–2010 | Redland City Devils | ||
| International career | |||
| Wales U21 | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2011–2016 | Melbourne Victory Youth | ||
| 2013–2018 | Melbourne Victory (assistant) | ||
| 2015–2017 | Australia U20 (assistant) | ||
| 2018 | Brisbane Roar (assistant) | ||
| 2018–2019 | Brisbane Roar (caretaker) | ||
| 2019–2021 | Brisbane Roar (assistant) | ||
| 2021 | Swansea City U16 | ||
| 2021–2023 | Swansea City U18 | ||
| 2023–2024 | Cardiff City (assistant) | ||
| 2024– | Al-Ettifaq (assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editA Wales U21 international, Davies started his career at Tottenham Hotspur in England, before becoming a member of the Barry Town squad to compete in the UEFA Champions League qualifying stages. He later plied his trade in Scotland at Greenock Morton[1] and Stirling Albion,[2] before dropping into non-league football in England and Wales.[3]
Managerial career
editDavies has since relocated to Australia, initially employed as head coach at the Queensland Academy of Sport prior to taking a role at Melbourne Victory.[4][5] In March 2013, he coached his team to success in the National Youth League Championship, and was also promoted to the assistant job of the senior squad, following Ange Postecoglou's promotion to the Socceroos.[6]
On 24 July 2015, Davies was appointed as Paul Okon's assistant coach for the Young Socceroos, alongside his roles at Melbourne Victory.[7]
On 30 May 2016, Gareth Naven was appointed as the coach of Melbourne Victory's NYL&NPL sides instead of him.[8]
On 8 August 2016, Davies was appointed as an assistant coach at Melbourne Victory.[9]
In June 2017, Davies, along with Kevin Muscat and Ross Aloisi, were called up by Ange Postecoglou to serve as members of Australia's coaching staff for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.[10][11]
On 28 December 2018, Davies was appointed as the caretaker coach of Brisbane Roar after the resignation of manager John Aloisi.[12][13] Davies resumed his previous duty as assistant coach for Brisbane Roar following the appointment of Robbie Fowler as the club's new head coach.[14]
In summer 2021, Davies joined Swansea City as their under 16s coach, and was quickly promoted to under 18s coach by November, when Byron Anthony left to become Bristol Rovers Academy Manager.[15]
In October 2023, Davies moved to Cardiff City as the capital city club's new individual development coach. His role is overseeing an "elite training group" which will feature the best young talents from the academy as well as fringe players from the first team.[16]
In February 2024, Davies joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq as first-team coach, working under manager Steven Gerrard.[17]
Managerial statistics
edit- As of 4 June 2019[18]
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Brisbane Roar | 
|
December 2018 | May 2019 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 16.67 |
| Total | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 16.67 | |||
References
edit- ^ "Greenock Morton". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ^ "Stirling Albion". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ^ Pitman, Mark (13 December 2011). "Davies emerges from Merthyr to Melbourne". WalesOnline Magazine Sport Blog. Wales Online. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ^ "Darren Davies appointed coach of Melbourne Victory National Youth League team". Football Federation Victoria. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ^ Ormond, Aidan (16 September 2011). "Victory Name Davies As New Youth Coach". Australian FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ^ "Darren Davies Delighted With NYL Championship Especially For His Boys That Have Been Through The Ups And Downs". Breathing Football.com. 5 March 2013. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ^ "Davies appointed Young Socceroos assistant coach". Football Federation Australia. 24 July 2015.
- ^ "Victory appoints Gareth Naven as NPL/NYL Head Coach". Melbourne Victory. 30 May 2016. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- ^ "Victory appoints Darren Davies as assistant coach". Melbourne Victory FC. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ "Kevin Muscat, Ross Aloisi, Darren Davies Socceroos' coaching staff". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. June 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ Davutovic, David. "Victory coach Kevin Muscat and Roar assistant Ross Aloisi join Socceroos coaching staff for Confederations Cup". Herald Sun. News Corporation. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ Bossi, Dominic (27 December 2018). "Whimper: Aloisi quits as Roar manager ahead of Sydney FC clash". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ^ Monteverde, Marco. "John Aloisi stands down as head coach of the Brisbane Roar". The Courier Mail. News Corp. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ^ "A-League news: Darren Davies on Brisbane Roar, Robbie Fowler as new head coach, team news, transfers". Fox Sports. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ "A-League news: Darren Davies confirmed as new Swansea City Under-18s coach". Swansea City. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ Williams, Glen (16 October 2023). "Cardiff hire new coach and copy Liverpool tactic in bid to unearth future stars". Wales Online. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Steven Gerrard makes surprise Al-Ettifaq appointment after Jordan Henderson exit". Daily Mirror. 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Darren Davies". ALeague Stats. Retrieved 4 June 2019.