 Clarke in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Darrell James Clarke[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1977-12-16)16 December 1977 (age 47)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Mansfield, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder[2] | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1987–1995 | Mansfield Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–2001 | Mansfield Town | 159 | (24) |
| 2001–2007 | Hartlepool United | 127 | (19) |
| 2005 | →Stockport County (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2005 | →Port Vale (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | →Rochdale (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 2007–2013 | Salisbury City | 138 | (12) |
| Total | 438 | (56) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2010–2013 | Salisbury City | ||
| 2014–2018 | Bristol Rovers | ||
| 2019–2021 | Walsall | ||
| 2021–2023 | Port Vale | ||
| 2023–2024 | Cheltenham Town | ||
| 2024–2025 | Barnsley | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Darrell James Clarke (born 16 December 1977) is an English professionalfootball manager and formerplayer who played in theEnglish Football League. He was most recently the head coach ofEFL League One clubBarnsley.
A box-to-boxmidfielder, Clarke began his career withMansfield Town in 1995, where he spent the first six years of his career, making 173 league and cup appearances. In 2001, hetransferred toHartlepool United, where he spent another six years, making a further 136 appearances. He was sent out onloan toStockport County,Port Vale, andRochdale in the final years of his spell. In 2007, he left the professional game to sign forSalisbury City before taking up the management position at the club in 2010. He led the club topromotion into theConference Premier from theSouthern League with two play-off final victories in three seasons.
He was appointed manager ofBristol Rovers in March 2014 but could not prevent the club from dropping out of theEnglish Football League. However, one year later, Clarke successfully guided Bristol Rovers back into the Football League after winning the2015 Conference Premier play-off final and then went on to take the club into League One with promotion out ofLeague Two in 2015–16. At the time of his departure in December 2018, he was the fourth-longest serving manager in the EFL. He was appointed manager atWalsall in May 2019 and left the club in February 2021 to manage League Two rivalsPort Vale. He led the club to promotion with victory in the2022 play-off final before being sacked in April 2023. He took charge atCheltenham Town in October 2023 and then switched toBarnsley in May 2024, where he was sacked after nine months in charge.
Born inMansfield, Nottinghamshire,[1] Clarke stated that he was "brought up on a rough estate" in Ladybrook.[3][4] His mother died in a car crash when Clarke was aged two and he and his brother, Wayne, were raised by his grandparents as his father was analcoholic.[5] His grandfather was a steward atMansfield Town.[5] He is a boyhoodManchester United fan.[6] His eldest daughter, Ellie, died onValentine's Day 2022 in what was ruled as a suicide by aninquest, though Clarke maintains was "a cry for help that went drastically wrong".[4]
Clarke was an energetic box-to-boxmidfielder with an eye for goal. However, defending was his weakness.[7] He started his career at Mansfield Town when he joined their youth set-up at the age of just 10.[8] He made his way through the ranks and was offered a professionalcontract atField Mill byAndy King in 1995. Clarke made his first-team debut on 21 December 1996, coming on as ahalf-timesubstitute forBen Sedgemore in a 2–1 defeat atCardiff City. He marked his home debut atField Mill with a goal in a 2–0 victory overDoncaster Rovers. The "Stags" struggled near the foot of theThird Division in1995–96, rising to mid-table in1996–97 and1997–98, before finishing one place outside theplay-offs in1998–99. They then dropped back into the lower half of the table in1999–2000 and2000–01 aftermanagerSteve Parkin was replaced byBill Dearden. While at Mansfield, he became a fan favourite due partly to his highwork rate; he made 173 league and cup appearances for the club, scoring 27 goals.[9][10]
Clarke was signed toHartlepool United byChris Turner in July 2001 on afree transfer, courtesy of theBosman ruling,[11] but Hartlepool still had to pay£70,000 as he was under 24.[12] He was seen by many as the replacement forTommy Miller.[13] Clarke originally failed to cement his place in the starting 11 and found himself in and out of the team, making 26 league starts and 9substitute appearances. However, he still managed to score seven league goals, including ahat-trick in a 7–1 win overSwansea City.[14] The following season was much more successful for Clarke as he played in nearly all of Hartlepool's matches and added another seven goals to his tally in Hartlepool'spromotion winning campaign. The arrival of managerNeale Cooper saw Clarke's opportunities in the first-team in2003–04 limited, asEifion Williams was preferred on the right wing. Clarke only started 23 league matches, but he still managed to make a further 12 substitute appearances.[15]
In the2004–05 season, Clarke suffered a knee injury that prevented him from participating in any of Hartlepool's league games. He wasloaned out toStockport County — managed by former Hartlepool boss Chris Turner —[16][12] to gain fitness in January, but this was cut short as Clarke picked up another knee problem after just one game.[17] His knee injury caused him to miss the second half of the campaign.[18] In September 2005 Clarke was loaned toPort Vale,[19][20] but played just two minutes after being utilised as a late substitute by managerMartin Foyle.[21] Despite his return to full fitness being described by managerMartin Scott as a 'massive boost',[22] his appearances were again limited once he returned toVictoria Park. In July 2006 he was loaned toRochdale,[23] where he made 12 appearances, scoring one goal.[24] He was released by Hartlepool managerDanny Wilson in May 2007.[25]
On 3 July 2007, he signed for newly-promotedConference Premier clubSalisbury City.[26] He was strongly influenced by former teammateTommy Widdrington to make the switch south, and was the third signing made byNick Holmes. He helped the club avoidrelegation in the2008–09 season, which was a good achievement for the club.[27] At the beginning of the2009–10 season he became Salisbury's most senior player. He was duly given thecaptain's armband by Widdrington, who had recently been appointed manager.[28] He captained the club to a mid-table finish. However, Salisbury were demoted down into theSouthern League Premier Division as punishment for their severe financial problems.[29] He also spent his spare time coaching the under-8s atPortsmouth.[30]
In July 2010,Tommy Widdrington leftSalisbury City for the job of assistant manager atSouthend United. As a result of this, Clarke became jointcaretaker manager beside Mikey Harris. The next month he was madeplayer-manager permanently, with Harris as his assistant.[31] He needed to secure an immediate promotion to maintain the funding to keep the club a full-time professional organisation and so recruited young players freshly released from Football League clubs.[32] However, he lost top-scorerMatt Tubbs, who was sold for a club record £55,000 toCrawley Town.[33] Afterhis first season, the "Whites" won promotion from theSouthern League Premier Division via the play-offs, winning 3–2 on penalties after a 2–2 draw withHednesford Town.[34]
Clarke led Salisbury to the Second Round of theFA Trophy in his second season in charge. He also made history when his side beatGrimsby Town in theFA CupSecond Round, taking Salisbury to the Third Round of the FA Cup for the first time in the club's history,[35] where they facedSheffield United atBramall Lane. At the start of the campaign he had stated his intention to sign promising young players,[36] and during the Januarytransfer window he signed 19-year-old Matt Clark and former England youth playerAbdulai Bell-Baggie,[37] as well as 29-year-old striker Robbie Matthews.[38] However, he also placed winger Charlie Knight on thetransfer list along with striker Jake Reid, defender Josh Casey, and winger Adam Kelly.[39] They finished the2011–12 campaign comfortably in tenth place, and Clarke extended his contract at the club to another season.[40]
Clarke's pre-season signings for2012–13 includedJamie White fromWinchester City, James Clarke fromOxford City, andTheo Lewis after his release fromCheltenham Town. By April, these signings proved successful and helped Salisbury take second place in theConference South. The team's success saw him strongly linked with the vacant management position atHartlepool United in October 2012,[41] though he ultimately remained at Salisbury. The club finished four points behind championsWelling United and had to make do with a play-off place. Promotion was secured with a 3–2extra time victory overDover Athletic in the play-off final.[42]
In June 2013, Clarke was appointed as assistant manager ofLeague Two clubBristol Rovers, supportingJohn Ward.[43] Following another season of struggle at Rovers, Ward was moved to a role asDirector of football and was replaced as manager by Clarke in March 2014.[44] His first game on 29 March ended with a 1–0 victory overMorecambe at theMemorial Stadium, and Clarke said that "I tried to get my philosophy across today and I think we did it in spells and we need to more of that".[45] Rovers were relegated out of theFootball League on the final day of the2013–14 after a 1–0 defeat toMansfield Town; a draw would have been enough to keep the club up, as they were relegated ongoal difference.[46]
He oversaw a rapid turnover of players for the2014–15 season, releasing 16 players and signing 13 players on free transfers, including strikerMatty Taylor.[47] His first task However, was to remove 'Clarke Out' posters that had been placed around thetraining ground by disgruntled fans.[32] After a poor start Rovers rose up the table and ended the campaign in second place, one point behindBarnet.[48] Clarke led Rovers to promotion with a 5–3penalty shoot-out victory overGrimsby Town atWembley Stadium in the2015 Conference Premier play-off final on 17 May 2015, following a 1–1 draw after extra time.[49] He won three Manager of the Month awards during the season, in September, December and February.[50] Rovers achieved a second-successive promotion with a third-place finish in League Two in the2015–16 campaign.[51] Clarke was named asManager of the Month for March after winning six of seven games by "playing exciting and attacking football" according to head judgeGeorge Burley.[52] Promotion was achieved on the final day of the season with a stoppage-time winner againstDagenham & Redbridge, which took them aboveAccrington Stanley into third place.[53] Named as the Football League manager of the week, his citation stated that "Clarke has performed wonders as his men have stormed up the table".[54] On 27 May 2016, Clarke turned down the opportunity to manageChampionship clubLeeds United and signed a new three-year contract with Bristol Rovers.[55] He had met Leeds chairmanMassimo Cellino but rejected the opportunity after Cellino told him he wanted an active role in player recruitment.[5]
Speaking after an FA Cup second round defeat to National League sideBarrow in December 2016, Clarke said it might be the "end of the road" for some of his squad and urged investment in the playing squad.[56] He was named as EFL manager of the week after overseeing a 5–0 victory overNorthampton Town on 7 January.[57] However, that month he lost Matty Taylor afterBristol City activated his £300,000release clause to make Taylor the first player to move fromRovers to City in 30 years.[58] During late March 2017, with his club sitting just outside theLeague One play off places,Norwich City were reported to be interested in Clarke following the sacking of previous managerAlex Neil.[59] Whilst Clarke never turned down any potential offer he instead pledged his loyalty to Rovers instead,[60] the announcement coming a day after his three-year anniversary of his first Rovers match in charge.[61] Rovers finished in 10th-place in2016–17.[62]
In June 2017, Clarke signed a new five-year contract.[63] He was named as EFL manager of the week after overseeing a 6–0 win away at Northampton Town on 7 October despite missing his preferred centre-backs.[64] However, speaking later in December he said he felt "let down" by the club for its wage policy and infrastructure, saying they were "30 years behind" other clubs.[65] He further admitted some of his players were struggling with the increased expectations following recent successes, though Rovers still managed to end the2017–18 campaign in 13th-place.[66]Billy Bodin was sold toPreston North End for an undisclosed fee in January 2018.[67] In June 2018 he graduated with the FA's highest coaching qualification (FA Level 5 UEFA Pro).[68] The following month he sold forwardEllis Harrison toIpswich Town for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £750,000.[69] He left his post on 13 December 2018 following a run of seven defeats in ten matches; at the time of his departure he was the fourth-longest serving manager in the EFL.[70]
On 10 May 2019, Clarke signed a three-year contract to becomeWalsall's new manager following their relegation into League Two at the end of the2018–19 season.[71] He signed 16 players as 23 departed – including midfielderGeorge Dobson, who was sold on toSunderland – and got off to a poor start after Walsall picked up just one win the opening ten games of the2019–20 campaign, with the team sound defensively but failing to create any chances in a 5–3–2formation.[72][73] Form improved as Clarke switched to a 4–4–2 formation and got the best out of 22-year-oldWes McDonald, However, a run of six league defeats began in October and drew the club into a relegation battle, though was immediately followed by a run of only two defeats in 11 league games.[73] Walsall were in mid-table when the season was ended early due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in England and Walsall Supporters' Trust secretary Steve Davies said that the team were "starting to gel and the signing of Wes McDonald was key".[74] Clarke went on to admit that the following campaign would likely see him focus more on youth as the club faced a challenging financial future due to the effects of the pandemic.[75] He left theBescot Stadium midway through the2020–21 season with Walsall 11th in the table after Port Vale agreed to pay Walsall a compensation package.[76]
On 15 February 2021, Clarke was appointed as manager of Port Vale, who were 18th in League Two and without a permanent manager since the departure ofJohn Askey at the start of January.[77] He arrived a week afterDavid Flitcroft's appointment asdirector of football.[78] It took him eight games to get his first win as Vale manager, which came in a 2–1 victory overNewport County on 16 March atVale Park.[79] This was the first of six successive victories, the longest winning streak for the club sinceMarch 1996.[80] He was nominated for the League Two Manager of the Month award after his team picked up 16 out of an available 18 points in April, conceding just a single goal in the process.[81] Port Vale ended the2020–21 season in 13th-place and Clarke said that "I can't wait to get rid of the deadwood if I am honest".[82] He released all 15 out of contract players and placed a further three contracted players on the transfer-list.[83][84]
Clarke and Flitcroft recruited 12 players for the start of the2021–22 season, includingBen Garrity,Jamie Proctor andJames Wilson.[85] Clarke was named as September's Manager of the Month award after overseeing a run of three wins from four games which took his side into the automatic promotion places.[86][87] He also won October's award after Vale secured a further 13 points, during which time they scored at least three goals in five of their six games; in doing so he became the first Port Vale boss to win the award two months running.[88][89] Nine players left the club in the January transfer window, whilst eight signings were made, includingConnor Hall andChris Hussey.[90]
On 15 February, Clarke took a leave period after a close family bereavement, withAndy Crosby standing in during his absence.[91][92] On 30 March, it was confirmed that Clarke would be returning to the club to support Crosby until the end of the season before taking charge again in the summer.[93] Clarke completed a phased return to the manager role on 6 May.[94] Vale qualified for theplay-off semi-finals. Clarke wassent off inextra-time of the second leg for an altercation withSwindon Town'sDion Conroy, and had to witness Vale's penalty shoot-out victory from the stands.[95] He apologised for his behaviour and went on to say that: "We've got one more game to go against Mansfield, which is fitting because it's where my eldest daughter came from.... it'll be an emotional day but I'm looking forward to the final."[96] He signed a new five-year contract two days before the final.[97] Vale eased to victory inthe final with a 3–0 victory and Clarke dedicated the win to his daughter, Ellie, who had died in February.[98][99] Clarke was one of eleven managers who received special recognition at the 41st Football Writers Awards dinner for their work during the 2021–22 season.[100]
Clarke was linked with the vacant management position atPortsmouth in January 2023, though stated that "I am really happy here [at Port Vale]".[101] On 17 April 2023, Clarke was sacked following run of two wins in eighteen-games that left the club 18th in League One.[102] He released a statement two weeks later which stated: "Port Vale and its incredible fanbase will always hold a place in my and my family's hearts. The journey we travelled together, on and off thepitch, can never be erased. I will never be able to repay you as people for how you were there for us in our darkest hour, and for that we will be eternally grateful".[103]
On 29 September 2023, Clarke signed a two-year deal to manage Cheltenham Town, who were bottom of League One without a victory or goal scored from their opening nine games of the2023–24 season.[104] Before taking charge on 2 October, Clarke watched his new side lose 2–0 atLincoln City on 30 September.[105] Cheltenham lost their first game under Clarke, defeated 2–0 atWhaddon Road byFleetwood Town on 3 October, extending the goalless run to a record eleven league games.[106] He put his trust in the experienced players in the squad, leaving the younger loanee players struggling to make the bench.[107] Cheltenham won their first game under Clarke on 21 October, a 1–0 victory overCambridge United at Whaddon Road.[108] He was nominated for theEFL League One Manager of the Month award for October, with the EFL reporting that "to instil spirit and belief so quickly has been astonishing with six goals, seven points in five games".[109] Cheltenham were relegated on the final day following defeat toStevenage.[110]
On 23 May 2024, Clarke was appointed head coach of League One sideBarnsley on a two-year contract with the option for a third.[111] He signedConor Hourihane as a player-coach.[112] The "Tykes" enjoyed a good start to the2024–25 season, though were beaten 7–0 by Manchester United atOld Trafford in the EFL Cup.[113] On 12 March 2025, Clarke was sacked with the club sitting tenth in the league following a run of poor form that saw them drop out of the play-offs.[114][115]
Clarke is flexible with his formations and is open to different styles of playing rather than sticking to a rigid philosophy, believing that "adaptability is key".[116] He does though have a preference for playing with two strikers.[117] He is known for his intense training sessions and for producing extremely detailed reports on opposition teams.[118] At Bristol Rovers his team played an attacking,passing style and scored an average of close to two goals per game.[8] A motivational manager, he sees a happy dressing room as an essential part of a winning team and has been described as having a bubbly and infectious personality, though has been quoted as saying "I'm not a cuddling manager... soft players don't win you promotions".[119][7] His personality traits make him an energetic, passionate and frank manager.[120] He prefers to maintain a big squad of players and to regularly rotate his starting line-ups.[121]
"I didn't want to take a job where success was staying in the division... I like promotions. I like that feeling of working towards a goal.
— Clarke talking about his motivations, January 2020.[122]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Mansfield Town | 1995–96[123] | Third Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1996–97[124] | Third Division | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | |
| 1997–98[125] | Third Division | 35 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 38 | 4 | |
| 1998–99[126] | Third Division | 33 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 7 | |
| 1999–2000[127] | Third Division | 39 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 42 | 7 | |
| 2000–01[128] | Third Division | 32 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 7 | |
| Total | 159 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 173 | 27 | ||
| Hartlepool United | 2001–02[129] | Third Division | 35 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 8 |
| 2002–03[130] | Third Division | 45 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 7 | |
| 2003–04[15] | Second Division | 35 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[a] | 2 | 40 | 7 | |
| 2004–05[131] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2005–06[132] | League One | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2006–07[133] | League Two | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 127 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 136 | 22 | ||
| Stockport County (loan) | 2004–05[131] | League One | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Port Vale (loan) | 2005–06[132] | League One | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Rochdale (loan) | 2006–07[133] | League Two | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Salisbury City | 2007–08[134] | Conference Premier | 33 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 0 | 36 | 4 | |
| 2008–09[135] | Conference Premier | 39 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 42 | 4 | ||
| 2009–10[136][137] | Conference Premier | 43 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 7[d] | 1 | 53 | 4 | ||
| 2010–11 | Southern League Premier Division | — | ||||||||||
| 2011–12[138] | Conference South | 19 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 1[d] | 0 | 24 | 1 | ||
| 2012–13[136] | Conference South | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 138 | 12 | 10 | 0 | — | 11 | 1 | 159 | 13 | |||
| Career total | 438 | 56 | 18 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 15 | 3 | 482 | 63 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Salisbury City | 4 August 2010 | 14 June 2013 | 157 | 84 | 35 | 38 | 053.5 | [31][43][139] |
| Bristol Rovers | 28 March 2014 | 13 December 2018 | 246 | 104 | 56 | 86 | 042.3 | [70][140] |
| Walsall | 10 May 2019 | 15 February 2021 | 76 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 032.9 | [140] |
| Port Vale[a] | 15 February 2021 | 17 April 2023 | 124 | 52 | 27 | 45 | 041.9 | [140] |
| Cheltenham Town | 29 September 2023[b] | 23 May 2024 | 39 | 12 | 7 | 20 | 030.8 | [140] |
| Barnsley | 23 May 2024 | 12 March 2025 | 44 | 17 | 9 | 18 | 038.6 | [140] |
| Total | 670 | 286 | 155 | 229 | 042.7 | |||
Hartlepool United
Salisbury City
Bristol Rovers
Port Vale
Individual
