| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1981-12-30)30 December 1981 (age 43) | ||
| Place of birth | Wrexham, Wales | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 2011–2014 | The New Saints | ||
| 2015 | Wrexham (caretaker) | ||
Carl Darlington (born 30 December 1981)[1] is a Welshfootballcoach, currently head of academy coaching atEverton. He won three consecutiveWelsh Premier League titles forThe New Saints from 2012 to 2014, twice winning theWelsh Cup for adouble. He wascaretaker manager atConference Premier clubWrexham in 2015.
Born inWrexham, Darlington was an assistant manager atCefn Druids andAirbus UK before joiningThe New Saints in May 2010.[2] When Mike Davies was promoted todirector of football in April 2011, Darlington succeeded him as head coach.[3]
In 2011–12, Darlington's first full season as manager, TNS won theWelsh Premier League and theWelsh Cup, becoming the first team to win thedouble since their own achievement in 2005.[4][5]
In November 2013, Darlington's team achieved a full calendar year of home victories in the league at theirPark Hall venue; they scored 55 goals and conceded 3 in 14 games.[6] The 2013–14 season saw him win another double.[7][8]
In December 2014, with TNS 12 points ahead in the league, unbeaten in all competitions that season and unbeaten at home for over two years, Darlington left forWrexham, his hometown club that he had supported all his life. He was named first team coach underKevin Wilkin.[2] Wilkin was sacked on 30 March 2015 after losing theFA Trophyfinal, with Darlington taking over at a team 15th in theConference Premier.[9] The following day, he drew 1–1 at home to higher-rankedDover Athletic on his debut, while stating that he did not want the job permanently.[10] After his eight-game spell saw the team rise in the table, he expressed shock at being released in May with a year left on his contract, as new managerGary Mills wanted his own coaching staff.[11]
Darlington returned to TNS in December 2015 as first team coach underScott Harrison.[12] In May 2017, he left and rejoined Wrexham to coach forDean Keates.[13] His contract at theRacecourse Ground was not renewed in June 2021, after missing out on promotion to theEnglish Football League.[14]
In September 2022, Darlington was hired as head of academy coaching atPremier League clubEverton.[15]