Darren Fletcher was born in 1984, February 1, in Edinburgh. He is a professional Scottish soccer player playing as a midfielder. The guy is the captain of an English club called West Bromwich Albion, as well as his national team.
Start of football activity
Darren Fletcher is a graduate of the popular English club Manchester United. He got there in 1995. Until that moment, when he was very young, he trained in one of the clubs playing in the league of East Scotland. The boy could make his debut for Manchester United in 2000. At that time, by the way, he was the youngest player of the “Red Devils” in their entire history. However, due to the fact that the boy did not conclude a professional contract, the debut broke.
Numerous injuries were delayed by his appearance on the field in the first team. Young Fletcher even managed to break his leg. As a result, his debut took place in 2003, on March 12. The match was held within the Champions League, and then the English team played against the Swiss “Basel”. Initially, the guy held the position of the right midfielder. He was even considered as Beckham's successor. But already in the matches for the reserve, he began to take the place of the central midfielder.
Way to success
Darren Fletcher managed to break through to the base in the 2003/04 season, demonstrating a good, very stable game. He showed himself well in important matches, among which was the final of the FA Cup. Then, “MU” won, scoring three goals against the goal of FC “Millwall”.
At the beginning of the next season, a young football player rarely went on the field. However, within a couple of months he regained his place at the base again. In 2005, on January 1, Darren Fletcher scored his first important goal. Manchester United then played against Middlesbrough. And the “Red Devils” won 2-0.
The young man became one of those players who were sharply criticized by captain Roy Keane. When “Manchester United” lost the same “Middlesbrough” (the score was 4: 1), he said that he sincerely did not understand why Scotland was admired by Darren. True, after some time, Keen somewhat softened his position. He explained: one should only listen to his comments over the past couple of years. You can immediately understand to whom he pays tribute to the players. Naturally, this is Fletch - Keene himself said so.
By the way, Darren Fletcher responded to criticism in 2005, November 6th. Then “MJ” played against “Chelsea”. And the Scot scored a major goal. It was he who interrupted the win-win series of London rivals in the Premier League, which lasted 40 matches in a row.
Mid 2000s
At the beginning of the 2006/07 season, the young Scot was still playing at the base of the “Red Devils”, but came out exclusively for a replacement. His game did not get worse. Darren Fletcher scored a goal against Charlton in an away match and scored on opponents from Middlesbrough. He became victorious, by the way.
In 2007, he again scored “Charlton”. But still, Sir Alex Ferguson did not let him go from the very start, deciding not to turn the quartet of midfielders into a quintet. A bunch of Ronaldo, Scholes, Giggs and Carrick was powerful and bore fruit. But still, when Scholes was disqualified, then the time came when Darren Fletcher began to go on the field at the start. The football player helped the club defeat “Roma” in the ¼ Champions League - the score was then 7: 1.
But in 2007/08, Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson joined the team. Fletch almost stopped falling into the base. Even rumors appeared that he would quit Manchester United. He really rarely appeared on the field. Beginners came out more often than he! But when he was released, he always scored. So, for example, in the 4th round of the FA Cup of that year, he scored two goals against Arsenal. The final victory was 4-0.
Contract extension
In the 2008/09 season, Darren Fletcher, whose photo is presented above, played a lot of matches. In the first two, taking place in the Premier League, he completely scored a goal - first, “Newcastle”, and then “Portsmouth”. The second of these brought the “Red Devils” victory.
In 2008, Fletch renews his contract until 2012. Then, after a couple of weeks, scores the third goal of the season against Everton. And having replaced in the game against the Japanese “Osaka Gamba”, he scored another influential ball. It was a match held as part of the club world championship.
When there was a game against “Porto” (1/4 of the Champions League), Darren came out in the starting lineup. As well as two semifinal games with “Arsenal”. But he missed the final because of receiving a red card, which he was “written out” at the end of the match ½ stage.
And Jose Mourinho, who was at that time the coach of Inter, said that FC Barcelona midfielders should be glad of this fact. He stated that Fletcher is a more important player than people can think. His work in midfield in decisive matches does a lot. And the loss of Darren is a loss of aggression in a defensive game.
Contribution to the game
In September 20, 2009, Darren scored a double in a significant Manchester derby. “Red Devils” won the match against “ManCity” with a tense score of 4: 3. By the way, in 2012 this match was recognized as the best for the first twenty years of the existence of nuclear submarines.
In 2010, the Scot participated in the defeat of AC Milan. He scored one goal as part of this match. By the way, he was held in the framework of 1/8 of the Champions League. And it is noteworthy that this goal was the first that Fletch scored in the European tournament. He played seven international matches that season. Thirty times he was released on the field as part of the Premier League. And in 2010 he was included in the symbolic submarine team.
But in 2011, Darren announced that he was forced to stop playing for some time. And all because of ulcerative colitis. He was treated for a long time and returned to football only in 2012, in the fall. However, in January of the following year, 2013, he again suspended his career. He was forced to go on a decisive operation. Darren finally returned to football only on December 15, 2013.
After 2015
For many years, the Scot defended the colors of the “Red Devils”. Together with them he overcame a lot. But in 2015, February 2, Darren Fletcher moved to West Bromwich. He signed a contract for 2.5 years. And the debut took place 6 days after signing the document. The Scot scored his first goal in the same year, April 11. It was a ball sent to the goal of “Leicester”.
Interestingly, now Fletch is also a player in the main squad of his national Scottish team. Already in his second match, he scored a goal against the Lithuanian national team. It was this goal that helped the Scottish team to reach the playoffs of the 2004 European Championship. Already on May 26, 2004, Darren entered the field with a captain's armband on his shoulder. Then he became the youngest captain in the history of the national team of Scotland after John Lambi - this guy became a captain when he was 17 years old and 3 months old.
By the way, in October 2005, Fletch scored a goal from 25 meters - this moment was remembered by many, and for a long time.
Achievements
Darren Fletcher, whose biography is full of various facts, is a really good football player. And this is evidenced not only by the technique of his game, but also by various achievements. Four times he won the Premier League, once became the owner of the FA Cup. He also won the victory in the Football League Cup (twice) with Manchester United.
In 2008, he became the winner of the Champions League. In the same year he won the Club World Cup. And of course, four times he won the English Super Cup with the “Red Devils”.
And with the Scottish team, Darren won the Kirin Cup. Of personal achievements - a place in the team of the year 2009/10 season and on the honorary list of players of the Scottish team. And you can be sure - this is not a complete list of his achievements. It will still be replenished.