Darren Murphy

Darren Murphy (born 28 July 1985) is an Irish football manager and former footballer who played as a midfielder.

He made his senior debut for Cobh Ramblers in an FAI Cup match against Shamrock Rovers in August 2002, three weeks after he had turned 17.

Murphy suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during his time with the club, recovering from the injury to play 77 times over five years, scoring nine goals.

Murphy started his playing career at Cobh Ramblers, progressing through the club's youth system before breaking into the first team during the 2003 season.

Murphy combined playing football alongside serving his electrical apprenticeship in Cork from 2003 to 2006.

Murphy started his career at Irish club Cobh Ramblers, as part of the club's youth system.

He then joined Cork City in 2007, and spent two seasons at the club.

Murphy signed for Cork City on a two-year contract in February 2007.

He played regularly in the first team during the latter stages of the 2007 season, making 32 appearances.

In December 2008, he joined Stevenage and helped the team win the FA Trophy in his first season there.

Murphy was part of the Stevenage team that earned back-to-back promotions from the Conference Premier into League One.

Financial issues forced Cork City into examinership in Murphy's second season with the club and he left the club when his contract expired at the end of the 2008 season.

Murphy was offered a one-week trial with English Conference Premier club Stevenage in December 2008, which proved successful, signing for the club on a short-term contract on 16 December 2008.

Murphy made his Stevenage debut in a 3–0 victory against Lewes at Broadhall Way.

He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 win against Kettering Town, scoring from close-range to restore parity in the match.

He made 20 appearances for the club during the 2008–09 season, during which he was sent off twice in matches against Kidderminster Harriers and Cambridge United; the latter was rescinded.

This meant that Murphy was able to play in the club's 2–0 FA Trophy final victory against York City at Wembley Stadium on 9 May 2009, a competition in which he started six games.

He played 24 times during the 2009–10 season as Stevenage won promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's history.

Murphy played his first game of the 2010–11 season on 9 August 2010, starting in Stevenage's 2–1 defeat to Portsmouth in the League Cup, scoring Stevenage's goal with a shot from outside the area that was deflected in.

He was substituted at half-time after suffering a dislocated shoulder, and was ruled out of first-team action for a month.

Murphy broke his leg whilst playing for Stevenage's reserve team against Colchester United reserves in September 2010.

He underwent surgery on the injury and the club stated he would likely miss the remainder of the season.

He played nine games during the 2010–11 season, scoring once.

This included three appearances in the 2010–11 League Two play-offs following Stevenage's sixth-placed finish.

Murphy returned to the first team in the club's 1–0 away victory at Wycombe Wanderers on 12 March 2011, playing the first half of the match.

Following a 3–0 aggregate victory over Accrington Stanley, Stevenage earned promotion to League One after a 1–0 victory against Torquay United at Old Trafford on 28 May 2011, with Murphy coming on as a 57th-minute substitute in the match.

He made his debut four days later in Aldershot's 1–0 home victory against Hereford United, Aldershot's first home win since December 2011.

He was released by Stevenage when his contract expired in May 2012.

He subsequently joined Port Vale on a free transfer two months later.

After making no first-team appearances during the first half of Stevenage's 2011–12 season due to a "succession of little injuries", Murphy joined League Two club Aldershot Town on a one-month loan agreement on 10 February 2012.

He made two further appearances during the loan, and returned to Stevenage in March 2012.

Murphy struggled with hamstring, groin and ankle injuries and was not involved in the latter stages of Stevenage's season, making no appearances for the team during the season.

He was released by Stevenage when his contract expired in May 2012.

Murphy made 53 appearances in all competitions during his three years with the club.

Murphy signed for Macclesfield Town in January 2013, but returned to Ireland two weeks later after tearing his calf muscle.

Injury would disrupt the latter stages of his career, spending time with Woking in September 2013, before returning to Cork City two months later.

He rejoined Cobh Ramblers in February 2015 and also played once for Avondale United.

Murphy made the transition from playing to coaching, spending time as first-team coach at Cobh Ramblers, before being appointed as the team's under-19 manager in February 2021.

After becoming interim manager of the first team in July 2021, Murphy was appointed first-team manager in September 2021 and remained in the post until June 2022.

Born in Cork, Republic of Ireland, he is a native of Carrignavar.