Darren Potter
Encyclopedia
Darren Michael Potter is an English-born Irish
footballer who is currently signed to Milton Keynes Dons
.
He is a former Liverpool
schoolboy captain who hails from the Scotland Road area of the city and is a full Irish international
.
, Potter is a central midfielder
who is a product of the Liverpool Academy. He started out at Everton
before transferring to Blackburn
and then, Liverpool
. He made his senior debut for the Reds on 10 August 2004 as a substitute for Steve Finnan
in a UEFA Champions League
qualifier against Grazer AK
, playing the last five minutes, and the whole of the return leg at home. In total, he made 10 appearances in the 2004–05
season, mostly in cup competitions. He featured in Liverpool's run to the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final
, coming on as a substitute in the round of 16 home tie against Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool would go on to win the trophy but Potter was left out of the final match day squad.
The following season, he was involved in pre-season friendlies and the Champions League qualifying rounds but did not feature in the Premier League. Instead, he saw league action on loan at Championship
side Southampton, during the second half of the season.
in the summer but was swiftly loaned out again, this time to another Championship
club, Wolves
, for the 2006–07
season. After impressing, the move was made permanent in a £250,000 three-and-a-half year deal during the January 2007 transfer window. Potter scored his first and only Wolves goal in the FA Cup against Oldham Athletic on 16 January 2007.
His second season with Wolves was less successful though, and manager Mick McCarthy
offered him the option of going on the transfer list during the January transfer window to seek more playing time at a new club. Potter rejected the offer and remained at Molineux
for the rest of the season, however the club transfer-listed him at its conclusion. After finding no takers for him during the Summer transfer window, he was taken off the transfer list and told to fight for his place.
on loan in January 2009, remaining there until the end of the season. Potter scored for the Owls 16 minutes into his debut against Charlton with a 30 yard drive into the bottom corner. He also hit the bar from a free kick in the 4–1 win.
He signed for Sheffield Wednesday
in a permanent deal on 10 July 2009 for an undisclosed fee.
. Potter scored his first goal of the 09/10 season on the 22nd of August in a 4–0 thumping of newly promoted Scunthorpe United. His next goal was to be much later on in the season with a left-footed curler in the bottom corner against Blackpool at Hillsborough on 9 February. Potter added to his tally for the season with a volley against Wednesday's fierce rivals Sheffield United in the steel city derby on April 19. Potter left Hillsborough on 23 June 2011 by mutual consent.
. He has been given the number 8 shirt.
multiple times for Republic of Ireland youth teams – appearing at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
– and later made his debut for Ireland's senior team
in a friendly against Ecuador
in Giants Stadium
, New York
on 23 May 2007.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
footballer who is currently signed to Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
.
He is a former Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
schoolboy captain who hails from the Scotland Road area of the city and is a full Irish international
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
.
Liverpool
Born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Potter is a central midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who is a product of the Liverpool Academy. He started out at Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
before transferring to Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
and then, Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. He made his senior debut for the Reds on 10 August 2004 as a substitute for Steve Finnan
Steve Finnan
Stephen John "Steve" Finnan is a retired Irish international footballer who played as a right back. He is the only player to have played in the World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, all four levels of the English league football and the Football Conference.-Early career:Finnan was born in...
in a UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
qualifier against Grazer AK
Grazer AK
Grazer AK, founded 18 August 1902 as Grazer Athletik-Sport Klub , is an Austrian sports club, from the city of Graz in the federal state of Styria . The football section is one of the most traditional Austrian clubs, most successful in the decade 1995 – 2005...
, playing the last five minutes, and the whole of the return leg at home. In total, he made 10 appearances in the 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season, mostly in cup competitions. He featured in Liverpool's run to the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final
2005 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2005 UEFA Champions League Final was the final match of the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League, Europe's primary club football competition. The showpiece event was contested between Liverpool of England and Milan of Italy at the Atatürk Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on 25 May 2005...
, coming on as a substitute in the round of 16 home tie against Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool would go on to win the trophy but Potter was left out of the final match day squad.
The following season, he was involved in pre-season friendlies and the Champions League qualifying rounds but did not feature in the Premier League. Instead, he saw league action on loan at Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Southampton, during the second half of the season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
He returned to AnfieldAnfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
in the summer but was swiftly loaned out again, this time to another Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club, Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, for the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season. After impressing, the move was made permanent in a £250,000 three-and-a-half year deal during the January 2007 transfer window. Potter scored his first and only Wolves goal in the FA Cup against Oldham Athletic on 16 January 2007.
His second season with Wolves was less successful though, and manager Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
offered him the option of going on the transfer list during the January transfer window to seek more playing time at a new club. Potter rejected the offer and remained at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
for the rest of the season, however the club transfer-listed him at its conclusion. After finding no takers for him during the Summer transfer window, he was taken off the transfer list and told to fight for his place.
Sheffield Wednesday
He failed to appear for his parent club during the first half of the 2008/09 season, and joined Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
on loan in January 2009, remaining there until the end of the season. Potter scored for the Owls 16 minutes into his debut against Charlton with a 30 yard drive into the bottom corner. He also hit the bar from a free kick in the 4–1 win.
He signed for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
in a permanent deal on 10 July 2009 for an undisclosed fee.
. Potter scored his first goal of the 09/10 season on the 22nd of August in a 4–0 thumping of newly promoted Scunthorpe United. His next goal was to be much later on in the season with a left-footed curler in the bottom corner against Blackpool at Hillsborough on 9 February. Potter added to his tally for the season with a volley against Wednesday's fierce rivals Sheffield United in the steel city derby on April 19. Potter left Hillsborough on 23 June 2011 by mutual consent.
Milton Keynes Dons
On 23 June 2011, Darren signed a one year contract for Milton Keynes DonsMilton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
. He has been given the number 8 shirt.
International
Potter has been cappedCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
multiple times for Republic of Ireland youth teams – appearing at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in United Arab Emirates between November 27 and December 19, 2003. The 2003 championship was the 14th contested...
– and later made his debut for Ireland's senior team
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
in a friendly against Ecuador
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
in Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on 23 May 2007.