Julian Darby


Julian Timothy Darby is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender and midfielder from 1986 until 2001, notably in the Premier League for Coventry City.
He also played for Bolton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Preston North End, Rotherham United and Carlisle United. During his coaching career he has coached at Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End.

Playing career

He played for Bolton Wanderers from 1986 to 1993, scoring 36 goals in 270 league appearances. He scored in the 1989 Associate Members Cup final, with Bolton beating Torquay United 4–1 at Wembley Stadium, in a side captained by future Derby boss Phil Brown. He subsequently joined Coventry City in 1993 but after 50+ games for them was transferred to West Bromwich Albion on 16 November 1995, making his debut for them shortly afterwards against Sunderland. In 1997, he moved to Preston North End, and following a loan spell at Rotherham United he transferred to Carlisle United in 2000 before retiring as a player in 2001.

Coaching career

Preston

He started his coaching career at Preston and became first-team coach. He joined Billy Davies as first-team coach at Derby County in 2006.

Nottingham Forest

In January 2009 he again joined up with Billy Davies when he was appointed first team coach at Nottingham Forest. He left in June 2011 following the departure of Billy Davies from the club and the appointment of his successor Steve McLaren.

Bolton

In 2012, he returned to Bolton as U16 coach at the club's youth academy he assisted Jimmy Phillips during his brief stint as Caretaker Manager following Owen Coyle's sacking in October 2012.

Nottingham Forest (second spell)

On 7 February 2013, he returned to Nottingham Forest as first team coach to Billy Davies. Darby left the club after Fawaz Al-Hasawi brought an end to Davies' reign as Manager at the club on 24 March 2014. On 20 November 2014, Darby settled with Forest out of court over an unpaid bonus case.

Leeds United

On 2 July 2015, it was announced that Darby had joined Uwe Rosler's backroom staff at Leeds United as first team coach.

Third spell at Bolton

In August 2017, it was confirmed that Darby had taken on a full-time role at the Bolton Wanderers academy, having spent the previous season coaching the U-16 team.

Honours

Player