Darren Fletcher

Darren Fletcher
For the retired American baseball player, see Darrin Fletcher.
Darren Fletcher
Darren fletcher.jpg
Personal information
Full name Darren Barr Fletcher[1][2]
Date of birth 1 February 1984 (1984-02-01) (age 27)[1]
Place of birth Mayfield, Dalkeith, Scotland
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Playing position Centre Midfielder
Club information
Current club Manchester United
Number 24
Youth career
1995–2002 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2001– Manchester United 197 (17)
National team‡
2002 Scotland U20 2 (2)
2002–2003 Scotland U21 4 (0)
2003 Scotland B 1 (0)
2003– Scotland 58 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 November 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 November 2011

Darren Barr Fletcher (born 1 February 1984 in Dalkeith, Scotland) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team. The industrious footballer has also played as a right winger or as an emergency defender.

Fletcher came through the ranks of Manchester United's Youth Academy and has gone on to win four Premier Leagues, one FA Cup, two League Cups, the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Fletcher was included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for 2009–10.

Fletcher made his Scotland debut in 2003 and scored his first international goal on his second appearance. After Barry Ferguson was banned from international football because of a breach of regulations, Fletcher was given the captain's armband in August 2009.[4][5] Fletcher has since gained 57 caps and scored 7 goals for Scotland.[6]

Contents

Club career

Early career

Born in Dalkeith, Scotland, Fletcher has been at Manchester United for his whole career coming up from the youth team. He joined Manchester United as a youth player at the age of 11, and was set to become the youngest player ever to appear in the Manchester United first-team when he was selected for the club's final fixture of the 1999–2000 FA Premier League season against Aston Villa on 14 May 2000; however, Premier League rules prohibit players on schoolboy contracts from appearing at the senior level, and Fletcher's debut was delayed.[7] He subsequently signed a trainee contract in July 2000, before signing his first professional contract on his 17th birthday on 1 February 2001. Meanwhile, he gradually progressed through the club's youth teams, and was part of the reserve team that won the Manchester Senior Cup in 1999–2000. He was initially seen as a right midfielder in the David Beckham mould and was tipped by many to break into the first-team with ease and stay there for many years to come,[8] but as he developed came to be viewed more as a central midfielder. Over the next couple of seasons, Fletcher's involvement was limited due to various injuries, including a broken foot, ; nevertheless, by the 2002–03 season, he had become a regular member of the reserve team, and after several appearances as an unused substitute, he finally made his first-team debut on 12 March 2003 – almost three years behind schedule – starting on the right side of midfield against Basel in the second group stage of the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League. He was substituted for David Beckham after 73 minutes, but a second Champions League appearance followed against Deportivo de La Coruña a week later, and he was named as a substitute for both legs of the quarter-final tie against Real Madrid. For his performances for the reserve team during the 2002–03 season, Fletcher received the Denzil Haroun Reserve Player of the Year award.

2003–04 season

Fletcher broke into the Manchester United team during the 2003–04 campaign, playing a number of important matches and starting in United's 2004 FA Cup Final win over Millwall in May 2004.[9]

2004–05 season

Despite a slow start to the 2004–05 campaign, in which in the early part of the season he made very few competitive appearances, Fletcher again broke into the United first-team. On 1 January 2005, Fletcher scored his first goal at club level in a 2–0 win over Middlesbrough.[10]

2005–06 season

Fletcher was one of the players singled out for criticism by club captain Roy Keane in the wake of United's 4–1 defeat to Middlesbrough in October 2005.[11] Keane reportedly said, "I can't understand why people in Scotland rave about Darren Fletcher." However, Keane later attempted to set the record straight stating, "If you listen to any of my comments over the last two or three years, if I've given any player credit over the years it would be Fletch. Fletch will tell you that himself."[12] Fletcher went some way towards answering his critics on 6 November 2005, with his performance in the vital league match at home to Chelsea, scoring the only goal of the game with a looping header.[13] His winning goal ended Chelsea's 40-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.[13]

2006–07 season

In 2006–07, at the start of the season he retained a place in the first-team but only on the bench and scored in an away win over Charlton Athletic, as well as scoring the headed winner in the away game with Middlesbrough in December and another headed goal in the home win against Charlton in February, making it a double against the club that season. As the season progressed, Alex Ferguson preferred the midfield quartet of Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs, limiting Fletcher to a few substitute appearances. However, with Scholes absent through suspension, he made a starring appearance in United's 7–1 win over Roma in the Champions League quarter-final.

2007–08 season

In the 2007–08 season, with the further arrival at the club of fellow central midfielders Owen Hargreaves and Anderson and winger Nani, Fletcher played even less than he did during the previous season. As before, Ferguson preferred Carrick, Scholes, Giggs and Ronaldo to him in midfield, and got even less playing-time than the new arrivals. He did, however, put in some stalwart performances when given the chance, including two goals in the 4–0 defeat of Arsenal at Old Trafford in the FA Cup fourth round. Fletcher picked up a Champions League winner's medal but was unused in the final.

2008–09 season

Fletcher playing for Manchester United

In the 2008–09 season, Fletcher started the first two games, due to injuries to Carrick and Ronaldo, and scored against Newcastle United at Old Trafford in United's first Premier League match of the season, forcing a 1–1 draw after Obafemi Martins' goal.[14] Fletcher notched his second goal of the season opening the scoring from close range against Portsmouth, following a pass from Patrice Evra. He was later shown a yellow card on the 93rd minute before the match ended 1–0.[15] On 3 October 2008, Fletcher signed a three-year extension to his contract with Man Utd, keeping him at the club until 2012.[16] Fletcher notched his third goal of the season against Everton on 25 October. He then scored in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Gamba Osaka on 18 December 2008 after coming off the bench. In the Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal on 5 May 2009, Fletcher was shown a red card ruling him out of the Champions League Final. There were calls[17] for this decision to be overturned, but apart from mistaken identity, there is no appeal procedure for red cards in UEFA competition.[18][19] Manchester United launched an appeal with UEFA to have the semi final red card overturned on 'compassionate' grounds on 7 May 2009,[20] but this was rejected on 11 May.[21]

2009–10 season

The 2009–10 season saw Fletcher consolidate his place in the heart of the United midfield, starting all of United's important games. He opened his scoring account for the season with a double in the first Manchester derby of the season, a memorable 4–3 victory for United, twice putting United ahead before Michael Owen scored in the sixth minute of added-time. He was awarded with the Barclays Man of the Match award for his performance.[22] On 21 November 2009, Fletcher scored his third of the season, and arguably his best goal for United, hitting a half volley from the edge of the area into the top corner giving United a 1–0 lead against Everton in a 3–0 win.[23] This season has also seen him and fellow midfielders Michael Carrick and Park Ji-Sung deputise in defence due to an injury crisis that left Patrice Evra being the only fit regular in defence. They still managed to keep a clean sheet against West Ham United and concede only one goal against Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg in the Champions League. Fletcher was sent off during the match against Birmingham on 9 January 2010 after 2 bookable offences. On 10 March, Fletcher scored the fourth goal in a 4–0 win in the second leg of United's last 16 Champions League tie with Milan, making the score 7–2 on aggregate. This was his first goal in the Champions League. Following this, Fletcher captained United for the first time in the league match against West Ham and was later confirmed as United's vice-captain. In April, Fletcher capped a successful season with selection in the 2009–10 PFA Premier League Team of the Year. On 9 May 2010, the last day of the season, Fletcher scored the first goal of a 4–0 win at home to Stoke City.

2011-12 season

Fletcher made his first start of the 2011-12 season in United's first group stage match in the UEFA Champions League away at Benfica, which ended in a 1-1 draw. This was Fletcher's first start for a number of months after being sidelined towards the end of the 2010-11 season with a virus. He then followed this up with his first Premier League appearance of the season in the 3-1 home win against title rivals Chelsea. Fletcher maintained his place in centre midfield in the following Premier League games against Stoke City and Norwich City. On 23 October 2011, Fletcher scored the consolation goal in a 6-1 defeat to local rivals Manchester City, with an exquisite curling shot into the top corner. Fletcher made his 300th career appearance for Manchester United on 5 November in a 1-0 home win against Sunderland.

International career

Fletcher has established himself as a regular choice for Scotland and scored his first goal in a 1–0 win over Lithuania, having come off the bench for only his second cap.[24] His goal took Scotland to the play-offs for Euro 2004 On 26 May 2004, he captained Scotland to a 1–0 friendly win against Estonia in Tallinn. This made him the youngest Scotland captain since John Lambie of Queen's Park led the side that beat Ireland 7–2 on Saturday, 20 March 1886. Lambie was aged just 17 years and 92 days.[25]

Fletcher's improvement for his national side was capped by a 25-metre strike in an October 2005 World Cup qualifier against Slovenia. Fletcher was Scotland's vice-captain under Alex McLeish, deputising in the absence of regular captain Barry Ferguson, but following then the removal of Barry Ferguson as captain in 2009, Fletcher was named as full time captain in November 2009.[4][5]

International goals

Scores and results list (Scotland's goal tally first).
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 11 October 2003 Hampden Park, Glasgow  Lithuania 1–0 1–0 Euro 2004 qualification
2. 30 May 2004 Easter Road, Edinburgh  Trinidad and Tobago 1–0 4–1 Friendly
3. 12 October 2005 Arena Petrol, Celje  Slovenia 1–0 3–0 2006 World Cup qualification
4. 2 September 2006 Celtic Park, Glasgow  Faroe Islands 1–0 6–0 Euro 2008 qualification
5. 3 September 2011 Hampden Park, Glasgow  Czech Republic 2–1 2–2 Euro 2012 qualification

Career statistics

Club

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other[nb 1] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester United 2002–03 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
2003–04 22 0 5 0 2 0 6 0 0 0 35 0
2004–05 18 3 3 0 3 0 5 0 1 0 30 3
2005–06 27 1 3 0 4 0 7 0 0 0 41 1
2006–07 24 3 6 0 1 0 9 0 0 0 40 3
2007–08 16 0 1 2 0 0 6 0 1 0 24 2
2008–09 26 3 3 0 1 0 8 0 4 1 42 4
2009–10 30 4 0 0 3 0 7 1 1 0 41 5
2010–11 26 2 2 0 1 0 7 1 1 0 37 3
2011–12 8 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 10 2
Total 197 17 23 2 15 0 59 3 8 1 302 23

Statistics accurate as of match played 19 November 2011[26]

International

Scotland national team
Year Apps Goals
2003 4 1
2004 9 1
2005 7 1
2006 7 1
2007 7 0
2008 6 0
2009 6 0
2010 7 0
2011 5 1
Total 58 5

[27]

Honours

Club

Manchester United

International

Scotland

Individual

Personal life

Fletcher is the father of twin boys, Jack and Tyler (born 2007) with his wife, Hayley Grice.[28][29] The couple married in early June 2010.

He was one of many footballers in the Manchester and Liverpool area whose home was robbed while playing away games when thieves raided his house in February 2009. Grice was held at knifepoint by the thieves.[30] The incident occurred while Fletcher was in Milan for Manchester United's Champions League fixture against Internazionale.

Fletcher's father was caught speeding in Fletcher's Range Rover on the M6 motorway in Cumbria on 27 November 2008. As the owner of the car, Fletcher was ordered to identify the driver of the car, but he failed to do so and was summoned to Penrith Magistrates' Court in January 2010. After a hearing, Fletcher received six penalty points on his driver's licence, a £650 fine and was ordered to pay £900 in costs.[31]

Fletcher is involved in a programme to encourage "Deaf Friendly Football" for youngsters. The programme is run by the Manchester United Foundation and the National Deaf Children's Society.[32]

Notes

  1. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup

References

  1. ^ a b Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 211. ISBN 1852916656. 
  2. ^ "Premier League clubs submit squad lists". premierleague.com (Premier League). 1 September 2010. http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2142220,00.html. Retrieved 7 July 2011. 
  3. ^ "Darren Fletcher". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/First-Team/Darren-Fletcher.aspx?section=Quote. Retrieved 7 July 2011. 
  4. ^ a b "Scots built for attack – Fletcher". BBC Sport. 13 August 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8194452.stm. Retrieved 12 August 2009. 
  5. ^ a b "Fletcher honoured to be captain". BBC Sport. 11 August 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8196191.stm. Retrieved 12 August 2009. 
  6. ^ "Darren Fletcher – A Squad". ScottishFA (Scottish Football Association). 15 January 2011. http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football_player_profile.cfm?page=823&playerID=27512&CFID=10634214&CFTOKEN=56311775. Retrieved 15 January 2011. 
  7. ^ Ponting, Ivan (2008) [1989]. Manchester United: Player by Player (8th edition ed.). Studley: Know The Score Books. p. 337. ISBN 978-1-84818-300-1. 
  8. ^ Lawrence, Ken (28 July 2000). "Fletcher is ready to fill Beckham's boots". ESPNsoccernet. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/archive/columns/2000/0728/20000728featlawrence.html. 
  9. ^ "Man Utd win FA Cup". BBC Sport. 22 May 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/3725063.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2010. 
  10. ^ "Middlesbrough 0–2 Man Utd". BBC Sport. 1 January 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4114661.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2010. 
  11. ^ Taylor, Daniel (1 November 2005). "Keane gagged by United after TV attack on players". The Guardian. http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1605711,00.html. Retrieved 1 May 2010. 
  12. ^ Grant, Michael (18 December 2005). "Keane Rates Fletcher". Sunday Herald. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20051218/ai_n15938353. Retrieved 27 November 2006. 
  13. ^ a b "Man Utd 1–0 Chelsea". BBC Sport. 6 November 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4387838.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2010. 
  14. ^ "Man Utd 1–1 Newcastle". BBC Sport. 17 August 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7551173.stm. Retrieved 26 August 2008. 
  15. ^ "Portsmouth 0–1 Man Utd". BBC Sport. 25 August 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7565068.stm. Retrieved 26 August 2008. 
  16. ^ "Scholes & Fletcher sign new deals". BBC Sport. 3 October 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7651126.stm. Retrieved 3 October 2008. 
  17. ^ "Uefa stands by Fletcher red card". BBC Sport. 6 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8035053.stm. Retrieved 1 May 2010. 
  18. ^ "Arsenal v Man Utd as it happened". BBC Sport. 5 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8032998.stm. Retrieved 1 May 2010. 
  19. ^ "Arsenal 1–3 Man Utd (agg 1–4)". BBC Sport. 5 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8010853.stm. Retrieved 1 May 2010. 
  20. ^ "United Lodge Fletcher Appeal". Sky Sports. 7 May 2009. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_5293440,00.html. 
  21. ^ "Fletcher appeal rejected". BBC Sport. 11 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8037362.stm. Retrieved 11 May 2009. 
  22. ^ "Man Utd 4–3 Man City". BBC Sport. 20 September 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8256750.stm. Retrieved 20 September 2009. 
  23. ^ "Man Utd 3–0 Everton". BBC Sport. 21 November 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8364359.stm. Retrieved 21 November 2009. 
  24. ^ "Scotland battle past Lithuania". BBC Sport. 11 October 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/scotland/3165778.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2010. 
  25. ^ "Sat 20 Mar 1886 Ireland 2 Scotland 7". London Hearts. http://londonhearts.com/scotland/games/18860320.html. Retrieved 27 November 2006. 
  26. ^ Endlar, Andrew. "Darren Fletcher". StretfordEnd.co.uk. http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/playermenu/fletcher_d.html. Retrieved 2 October 2010. 
  27. ^ "Darren Fletcher – A Squad". Scottish Football Association. http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football_player_profile.cfm?page=138&playerID=27512&squadID=1. Retrieved 18 January 2011. 
  28. ^ "Scotland hopes". Sunday Herald. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20081010141420/http://www.sundayherald.com/sport/shfootball/display.var.1460553.0.0.php. Retrieved 20 January 2008. 
  29. ^ Umair, Ahmed (17 June 2010). "Darren Fletcher marries Hayley Grice". Soccerlens.com. http://soccerlens.com/babes/darren-fletcher-marries-hayley-grice/. Retrieved 17 June 2010. 
  30. ^ Walker, Peter (24 February 2009). "Robbers held knife to throat of Darren Fletcher's fiancee during raid". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/feb/24/darren-fletcher-fiance-knife-manchester-united. Retrieved 8 March 2009. 
  31. ^ "Motoring fine for Man Utd footballer Darren Fletcher". BBC News. 29 January 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/8487895.stm. Retrieved 31 January 2010. 
  32. ^ Northcroft, Jonathan (8 March 2009). "Darren Fletcher: out of the shadows". Times Online (Times Newspapers). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article5741098.ece. Retrieved 8 March 2009. 

External links

v · d · e2009–10 Premier League PFA Team of the Year
GK: Joe Hart  · DF: Branislav Ivanović  · DF: Thomas Vermaelen  · DF: Richard Dunne  · DF: Patrice Evra  · MF: Antonio Valencia  · MF: Cesc Fàbregas  · MF: Darren Fletcher  · MF: James Milner  · FW: Wayne Rooney  · FW: Didier Drogba
v · d · eManchester United F.C. – current squad

1 De Gea · 3 Evra · 4 Jones · 5 Ferdinand · 6 Evans · 7 Owen · 8 Anderson · 9 Berbatov · 10 Rooney · 11 Giggs · 12 Smalling · 13 Park · 14 Hernández · 15 Vidić (c) · 16 Carrick · 17 Nani · 18 Young · 19 Welbeck · 20 Fábio · 21 Rafael · 23 Cleverley · 24 Fletcher · 25 Valencia · 27 Macheda · 28 Gibson · 29 Kuszczak · 32 Diouf · 34 Lindegaard · 40 Amos · 42 Pogba · 49 Morrison · 51 Fryers · Manager: Ferguson

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