Darren Cole
Birth date3 January 1992 (age 34)
Birth placeEdinburgh, Scotland
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
PositionDefender
Years 12010–2013
Clubs 1Rangers
Caps 13
Goals 10
Years 22012
Clubs 2→ Partick Thistle (loan)
Caps 26
Goals 20
Years 32013–2014
Clubs 3Greenock Morton
Caps 318
Goals 30
Years 42015–2016
Clubs 4Livingston
Caps 428
Goals 40
Years 52016–2017
Clubs 5Broxburn Athletic
Caps 528
Goals 51
Years 62017–2021
Clubs 6Derry City
Caps 693
Goals 67
Years 72021–2023
Clubs 7Glentoran
Caps 77
Goals 70
Years 82022-2023
Clubs 8→ Dungannon Swifts (loan)
Caps 82
Goals 80
Years 92023-2024
Clubs 9Coleraine
Caps 915
Goals 91
Nationalyears 12007–2008
Nationalteam 1Scotland U16
Nationalcaps 16
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22008–2009
Nationalteam 2Scotland U17
Nationalcaps 213
Nationalgoals 20
Nationalyears 32009–2010
Nationalteam 3Scotland U19
Nationalcaps 37
Nationalgoals 30
Nationalyears 42011
Nationalteam 4Scotland U21
Nationalcaps 42
Nationalgoals 40
Club-update1 October 2023

Darren Cole (born 3 January 1992) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a defender. He has previously played for Rangers, Partick Thistle, Greenock Morton, Livingston, Derry City, as well as with several clubs in the NIFL Premiership.

Club career

Rangers

Cole signed a two-year contract extension with Rangers on 2 December 2010[1] and made his first-team debut five days later against Turkish side Bursaspor in Rangers' final 2010–11 UEFA Champions League group match, which ended 1–1.[2] Cole's performance was praised by manager Walter Smith.[3]

Cole did not feature in the Rangers first team under Ally McCoist during the 2011–12 season.[4] He was loaned to Partick Thistle in early January.[4]

Cole suffered ankle ligament damage in January 2013, which was expected to rule him out for the remainder of the 2012–13 season.[5] He did make an appearance in the final game of the season, against Berwick Rangers. Cole had his contract with Rangers terminated on 28 August 2013, after he failed to report for a reserve team friendly game with junior club Cambuslang Rangers.[6]

Greenock Morton

On 27 December 2013, Cole signed for Greenock Morton until the end of the season.[7] He left Morton in the summer of 2014 after just six months at the club.

Livingston

On 20 February 2015, Cole signed for Scottish Championship club Livingston until the end of the 2014–15 season. After impressing in his first season at Livingston, he not only won a new contract, but also was named captain for the season 2015–16.[8] Following the club's relegation to League One, Cole was released from his contract on 15 July 2016.[9]

Broxburn Athletic

In August 2016, Cole signed a one-year contract with Junior Super League club Broxburn Athletic. He was a regular in the team, appearing 28 times for the Albyn Park club, scoring one goal.

Cole's missed out on playing in the 2017 Fife and Lothians Cup Final against Tranent Juniors, as his side lost 1–0, at New Victoria Park, Newtongrange.[10]

Derry City

In June 2017 Cole signed a six-month contract with League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City.[11] On the 16 September, Cole scored in the 2018 League of Ireland Cup Final in a 3–1 win over League of Ireland First Division side Cobh Ramblers.[12] He signed a new contract with the club in February 2019.[13]

Glentoran

Cole signed for Glentoran in December 2021.[14] The defender signed for Dungannon Swifts on loan in August 2022.[15]

International career

Cole has represented Scotland at various age levels.[16]

Career statistics

[17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational Cup[a]League Cup[b]EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rangers2010–11Scottish Premiership0000001[c]0—10
2011–1200—0000—00
Partick Thistle (loan)2011–12Scottish Championship6000———60
Rangers2012–13Scottish League Two301000—0[d]040
2013–14Scottish League One00—00—0[d]000
Rangers Total301000100050
Greenock Morton2013–14Scottish Championship1800000—0[d]0180
Livingston2014–15900000—1[d]0100
2015–162000020—3[e]0250
Livingston Total2900020—40350
Broxburn Athletic2016–17Scottish Junior Super League28100——2[f]0301
Derry City2017League of Ireland Premier Division12110———131
201832230312[g]0—403
20192532010——283
20209110—1[g]0—111
202114010———150
Derry City Total927804130—1078
Career total1768906140602019
  1. ^ Includes Scottish Cup & FAI Cup
  2. ^ Includes Scottish League Cup & League of Ireland Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
  5. ^ 2 appearances in Scottish Championship play-offs & 1 appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup
  6. ^ Appearances in Scottish Junior Cup
  7. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Rangers

Derry City

References

  1. ^ "Rangers starlets pen new two-year deals with Ibrox club". Daily Record. 2 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Bursaspor 1-1 Rangers". BBC Sport. 7 December 2010.
  3. ^ "Rangers manager Walter Smith hails young players". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 December 2010.
  4. ^ "Rangers defender Darren Cole starts Partick Thistle loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Cole's Season Could be over". Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  6. ^ "Decisions to be Made". Archived from the original on 30 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  7. ^ Mitchell, Jonathan (27 December 2013). "Morton make double signing". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  8. ^ "Darren Cole joins Livi". Livingston F.C. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Cole contract terminated". Livingston F.C. 15 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Broxburn Ath v Tranent Conservatory Convertors Fife & Lothians Cup Final". Broxburnathletic.co.uk
  11. ^ "Derry City announce signings of Toal, McIntyre and Cole". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  12. ^ "EA Sports Cup Final Report: Derry City 3 - 1 Cobh Ramblers"
  13. ^ Keenan, Shaun (5 February 2019). "Darren Cole returns to Derry City as two new faces arrive". Derry Daily. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  14. ^ "A Cole, Cole Christmas at the Oval"
  15. ^ "NEW SIGNING - Defender Cole Signs". Dungannon Swifts FC. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Darren Cole". scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  17. ^ "D. Cole". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 20 November 2018.