View source for Darren Potter

{{Short description|Footballer (born 1984)}}
{{for|the New Zealand cyclist|Darren McKenzie-Potter}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Darren Potter
| image = Darren Potter.jpg
| caption = Potter playing for [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] in 2010.
| full_name = Darren Michael Potter<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/general-news/efl-squad-numbering-06.09.2019.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Tranmere Rovers |publisher=English Football League |page=73 |access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|12|21|df=y}}<ref name="saintsplayers.co.uk">{{cite web |title=Darren Potter {{!}} SaintsPlayers.co.uk |url=https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/darren-potter/ |website=saintsplayers.co.uk |access-date=2 November 2022}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Liverpool]], England<ref name="saintsplayers.co.uk"/>
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}<ref name="FATS" />
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 1995–1999
| youthyears2 = 1999–2001
| youthyears3 = 2001–2003
| youthclubs1 = [[Everton F.C. Reserves and Academy|Everton]]
| youthclubs2 = [[Blackburn Rovers F.C. Under-23s and Academy|Blackburn Rovers]]
| youthclubs3 = [[Liverpool F.C. Reserves and Academy|Liverpool]]
| years1 = 2003–2007 | clubs1 = [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] | caps1 = 2| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2006 | clubs2 = → [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] (loan) |caps2 = 10 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2006 | clubs3 = → [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] (loan) | caps3 = 21| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2007–2009 | clubs4 = [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]   | caps4 = 35| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2009 | clubs5 = → [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] (loan) | caps5 = 17| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2009–2011 | clubs6 = [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] | caps6 = 79| goals6 = 6
| years7 = 2011–2017 | clubs7 = [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] | caps7 = 229| goals7 = 9 
| years8 = 2017–2019 | clubs8 = [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] | caps8 = 17 | goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2019–2020 | clubs9 = [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] | caps9 = 12 | goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2020 | clubs10 = [[Altrincham F.C.|Altrincham]] | caps10 = 0 | goals10 = 0
| totalcaps = 422| totalgoals = 17
| nationalyears1 = 
| nationalteam1 = [[Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team|Republic of Ireland U21]]
| nationalcaps1 = 
| nationalgoals1 = 
| nationalyears2 = 2007–2008
| nationalteam2 = [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 0
}}
'''Darren Michael Potter''' (born 21 December 1984) is a [[Association football|football]] coach and former player who is a coach at {{English football updater|MiltonKD}} club [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]]. A [[midfielder]], he made 502 league and cup appearances in a 16-year career in the [[Premier League]] and [[English Football League]]. Born in England, he won five caps for the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]. 

Potter began his career at [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], making his senior debut in a [[UEFA Champions League]] qualifier in August 2004 in the first of his three appearances in that season's competition, which Liverpool would eventually win. He played a total of 17 games for Liverpool. However, he featured just twice in the Premier League and spent 2006 on [[Loan (sports)|loan]] at [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] and [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]. He joined Wolves on a £250,000 [[Transfer (association football)|transfer]] in January 2007. A first-team regular in the 2006–07 season, he lost his place the following season and spent the second half of the 2008–09 season on loan at [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] before joining the club permanently for an undisclosed fee in July 2009. Wednesday were [[promotion and relegation|relegated]] out of the [[EFL Championship|Championship]] in 2010, and Potter left the club by mutual consent in June 2011.

Potter signed with [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] in June 2011 and was named the club's Player of the Year and on the [[PFA Team of the Year]] for the 2011–12 season. [[Promotion and relegation|Promotion]] out of [[EFL League One|League One]] was secured with a second-place finish at the end of his fourth season at the club. However, they would be relegated at the end of their maiden season in the Championship. He left the club at the end of the 2016–17 season and joined [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] in June 2017. He suffered an [[Achilles tendon|Achilles]] injury six months into his stay at Rotherham, which kept him out of action until the last game of the 2018–19 campaign. He spent the 2019–20 season with [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] and announced his retirement whilst at [[Altrincham F.C.|Altrincham]] in November 2020. He went on to coach at [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]], [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] and Milton Keynes Dons.

==Club career==

===Liverpool===
Born in [[Liverpool]], Potter grew up in the Scotland Road area of the city.<ref>[http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/potter-hoping-to-become-reds-new-wing-wizard Potter hoping to become Reds' new wing wizard] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140921204935/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/potter-hoping-to-become-reds-new-wing-wizard |date=21 September 2014 }} Mark Platt 26 July 2005. Retrieved 21 September 2014.</ref> He was released by [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], the club he supported as a boy, at the age of 15 and spent time in the [[Youth system|youth team]] at [[Blackburn Rovers F.C. Under-23s and Academy|Blackburn Rovers]], before being signed to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in 2001.<ref name="lfch">{{cite web |title=Liverpool career stats for Darren Potter - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC! |url=https://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/504 |website=www.lfchistory.net |access-date=20 November 2020}}</ref> He turned professional at Liverpool in April 2002.<ref name="lfch"/>

He made his senior debut for the "Reds" under the stewardship of [[Rafael Benítez]] on 10 August 2004, coming on as a late [[Substitute (association football)|substitute]] for [[Steve Finnan]] in a [[UEFA Champions League]] qualifier against Austrian side [[Grazer AK]], playing the last five minutes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Matchdetails from Grazer AK - Liverpool played on Tuesday 10 August 2004 - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC! |url=https://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/4903 |website=www.lfchistory.net |access-date=20 November 2020}}</ref> He started in the return fixture at [[Anfield]] 14 days later, in what ended as a 1–0 defeat though Liverpool advanced with a 2–1 [[aggregate score|aggregate]] victory.<ref>{{cite news |title=A disappointing performance, yet does the job - LFChistory - Stats galore for Liverpool FC! |url=https://www.lfchistory.net/Articles/Article/509 |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=www.lfchistory.net}}</ref> He made his [[Premier League]] debut on 1 February, in a 2–1 win at [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Charlton 1-2 Liverpool |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4221109.stm |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=1 February 2005}}</ref> He also featured in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, coming on as a substitute in the round of 16 home tie against [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4281707.stm|title=Liverpool 3–1 Bayer Leverkusen|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 February 2005 |access-date=14 August 2009}}</ref> Liverpool went on to beat [[A.C. Milan|Milan]] in [[2005 UEFA Champions League final|the final]], though only the matchday squad received winner's medals.<ref>{{cite news |title='It isn't disappointing to have no medal, I was happy being at Liverpool' |url=https://www.otbsports.com/soccer/no-better-feeling-potter-liverpool-944406 |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=Off The Ball |date=25 May 2020}}</ref> In total, he made 10 appearances in the [[2004–05 Liverpool F.C. season|2004–05]] season.<ref name="2004–05"/>

{{Blockquote|"I am more comfortable in the middle than on the right, but you know that [[Steven Gerrard]], the best player in Europe, [[Xabi Alonso]] and [[Dietmar Hamann|Didi Hamann]] are competing for those places, so it is not going to be easy playing there. But as far as I am concerned, I'd give an arm and a leg just to get a shirt in any position."|Potter speaking in July 2005.<ref name="lfch"/>}}

The [[2005–06 Liverpool F.C. season|following season]], he was involved in pre-season [[Exhibition game|friendlies]] and the Champions League qualifying rounds but did not feature in the Premier League. He made a brief cameo in the group stages of the Champions League, playing in the final moments of a 0–0 draw with [[Real Betis]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Liverpool 0-0 Real Betis |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4448344.stm |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=23 November 2005}}</ref> On 26 January, he joined [[EFL Championship|Championship]] side [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] on [[Loan (sports)|loan]] for the remainder of the [[2005–06 Southampton F.C. season|2005–06]] season.<ref name = FATS>{{cite book|last1=Chalk|first1=Gary|last2=Holley|first2=Duncan|last3=Bull|first3=David|title=All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC|year=2013|location=Southampton|publisher=Hagiology Publishing|isbn=978-0-9926-8640-6|page=434}}</ref> He provided an [[Assist (association football)|assist]] for [[Kenwyne Jones]] on his "Saints" debut, a 1–0 victory at [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] in the [[FA Cup]].<ref name="saintsplayers.co.uk"/> He made 12 appearances for [[George Burley]]'s side, nine starts and three times appearing from the bench.<ref name="FATS" /><ref name="saintsplayers.co.uk"/>

===Wolverhampton Wanderers===
On 17 August 2006, Potter returned to the Championship on loan at [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] for the [[2006–07 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season|2006–07]] season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Potter seals loan move to Wolves |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/4797641.stm |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=17 August 2006}}</ref> He scored his first career goal on 16 January, opening the scoring in a 2–0 victory at [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]] in the FA Cup.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oldham 0-2 Wolves |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6258841.stm |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=16 January 2007}}</ref> The loan move was made permanent for a £250,000 fee just two days later, with Potter signing a three-and-a-half-year [[Association football contracts|contract]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Potter completes move to Wolves |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/6276263.stm |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=18 January 2007}}</ref> He played 44 games for Wolves during the campaign, helping the team to qualify for the [[English Football League play-offs|play-offs]], though they were eliminated at the semi-final stages by [[Black Country derby]] rivals [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=McNulty |first1=Phil |title=West Brom 1-0 Wolves |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/6649727.stm |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=16 May 2007}}</ref>

His second season with Wolves was less successful, though, and [[Manager (association football)|manager]] [[Mick McCarthy]] offered him the option of going on the [[Transfer (association football)|transfer]] list during the January [[transfer window]] to seek more playing time at a new club.<ref>{{cite news |title=Potter rejected chance to leave |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/7265208.stm |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=26 February 2008}}</ref> Potter rejected the offer and remained at [[Molineux Stadium|Molineux]] for the rest of the [[2007–08 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season|2007–08]] season. However, the club transfer-listed him at its conclusion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wolves have end-of-term clear-out |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/7392077.stm |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 May 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stearman call makes it a record |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2008/09/03/stearman-call-makes-it-a-record/ |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=Express and Star |date=8 November 2016 |language=en}}</ref>

===Sheffield Wednesday===
He failed to appear for his parent club during the first half of the [[2008–09 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season|2008–09]] season. He joined [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] on loan in January, remaining there until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Owls sign Wolves' Potter on loan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/7830497.stm |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 January 2009}}</ref> Potter scored for [[Brian Laws]]'s "Owls" 16 minutes into his debut with a {{convert|30|yd}} drive into the bottom corner in a 4–1 win over Charlton at [[Hillsborough Stadium|Hillsborough]] on 17 January.<ref>{{cite news |title=Owls sign Wolves' Potter on loan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/7830497.stm |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 January 2009}}</ref> His loan was made into a permanent deal on 10 July for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{cite web| title =Owls Swoop For Potter| publisher =wolves.co.uk| date =10 July 2009| url =http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~1718989,00.html| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120512074813/http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10307~1718989%2C00.html| archive-date =12 May 2012| url-status=dead| df =dmy-all}}</ref>

Potter scored his first goal of the [[2009–10 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season|2009–10]] season on 22 August, in a 4–0 win over newly-[[Promotion and relegation|promoted]] [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheff Wed 4-0 Scunthorpe |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8202352.stm |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=22 August 2009}}</ref> His next goal was a left-footed curler in the bottom corner against [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] at Hillsborough on 9 February.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheff Wed 2-0 Blackpool |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8504284.stm |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 February 2010}}</ref> Potter added to his tally for the season with a [[Volley (association football)|volley]] against Wednesday's fierce rivals [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] in the [[Steel City derby]] on 19 April.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lyon |first1=Sam |title=Sheff Wed 1-1 Sheff Utd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8620080.stm |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=18 April 2010}}</ref> Wednesday were [[promotion and relegation|relegated]] at the end of the season after new manager [[Alan Irvine (footballer, born 1958)|Alan Irvine]] failed to inspire an upturn in form.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bok |first1=Ashley |title=Former Sheffield Wednesday and Liverpool midfielder retires |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/former-sheffield-wednesday-and-liverpool-midfielder-retires-3038306 |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=www.thestar.co.uk |date=17 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

The club struggled to adapt to life in [[EFL League One|League One]] and brought in [[Gary Megson]] as manager in February 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Louise |title=Gary Megson wants his passion for Sheffield Wednesday to rub off {{!}} Louise Taylor |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/football-league-blog/2011/mar/31/gary-megson-sheffield-wednesday |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=31 March 2011 |language=en}}</ref> They ended the [[2010–11 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season|2010–11]] season in 15th-place, with Potter scoring four goals from 40 games. He also received the first [[Penalty card|red card]] of his career for a [[Fouls and misconduct (association football)|foul]] on [[Craig Mackail-Smith]] in a 5–3 defeat at [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] on 1 February.<ref>{{cite news |title=Peterborough 5-3 Sheff Wed |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/9377243.stm |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=1 February 2011}}</ref>

===Milton Keynes Dons===
On 24 June 2011, Potter signed a one-year contract for League One club [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] after leaving Sheffield Wednesday by mutual consent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dons swoop for Wednesday's Potter |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13908911 |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=24 June 2011}}</ref> He was [[Ejection (sports)|sent off]] on his fourth appearance for the Dons, having received two yellow cards during a 1–0 win at [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]] on 16 August.<ref>{{cite news |title=Yeovil 0-1 MK Dons |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14457395 |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=16 August 2011}}</ref> He signed a new two-year contract in April 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Midfielder Potter earns MK deal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17688679 |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=12 April 2012}}</ref> He played 49 games during the [[2011–12 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2011–12]] season, scoring three goals, Dons qualified for the play-offs with a fifth-place finish. However, they were beaten 3–2 on [[aggregate score|aggregate]] by [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] in the play-off semi-finals.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Woodcock |first1=Ian |title=Hudd'field 1-2 MK Dons (agg 3-2) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17989104 |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2012}}</ref> Potter was named on the [[PFA Team of the Year]] and as Milton Keynes Dons Player of the Year and Player's Player of the Year.<ref name="kasabian">{{cite news |title=The science of Darren Potter |url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/science-darren-potter-1198094 |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=www.miltonkeynes.co.uk |date=22 September 2016 |language=en}}</ref>

The [[2012–13 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2012–13]] season would see a career-high for appearances and goals, as he scored five goals from 55 games, though the club finished two places outside the play-off places. He was limited to 37 appearances at [[Stadium mk]] during the [[2013–14 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2013–14]] campaign. On 21 February 2014, Potter signed a new two-year contract extension.<ref>{{cite news |title=Potter pens new deal |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2014/february/potter-pens-new-deal/ |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=www.mkdons.com |date=21 February 2014 |language=en-gb}}</ref> The club secured promotion at the end of the [[2014–15 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2014–15]] season under the stewardship of [[Karl Robinson]], finishing second to champions [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]].

In October 2015, Potter signed a new contract to keep him at the club until 2017, with the option of another 12 months.<ref>{{cite news |title=Potter pens new MK Dons contract |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34573548 |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=19 October 2015}}</ref> Dons lasted just one season in the Championship, being relegated after finishing 23rd in the [[2015–16 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2015–16]] season. Potter battle back from a knee injury to make 38 appearances that season, scoring once in a 5–1 home defeat to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in the FA Cup.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shepka |first1=Phil |title=Milton Keynes Dons 1-5 Chelsea |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35394225 |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2016}}</ref> On 24 April 2017, after six seasons, 266 appearances and 12 goals, Milton Keynes Dons announced that Potter would be leaving the club at the end of the [[2016–17 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2016–17]] season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39692482 |publisher=BBC Sport |title=Darren Potter: MK Dons midfielder to leave after six seasons at club |date=24 April 2017 |access-date=3 May 2017 }}</ref>

===Rotherham United===
On 14 June 2017, Potter signed a two-year contract with [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Millers complete deal for Darren Potter|url=https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2017/june/signing--millers-secure-deal-for-darren-potter/|publisher=Rotherham United F.C.|access-date=17 January 2018|date=14 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rotherham sign Darren Potter from MK Dons on a two-year deal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40273813|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=17 January 2018|date=14 June 2017}}</ref> He was rated as one of manager [[Paul Warne]]'s best performers during the first half of the [[2017–18 Rotherham United F.C. season|2017–18]] season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Paul |title=Paul Warne considers new Rotherham United contract for Darren Potter |url=https://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/sport/view,paul-warne-considers-new-rotherham-united-contract-for-darren-potter_31589.htm |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=Rotherham Advertiser |date=15 April 2019}}</ref> However, in December 2017 he suffered an [[Achilles tendon|Achilles]] injury which required two operations, and which kept him out of action until the final match of the [[2018–19 Rotherham United F.C. season|2018–19]] season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/sport/view,rotherham-united-ponder-new-deal-for-darren-potter_31810.htm|title=Rotherham United ponder new deal for Darren Potter|publisher=Rotherham Advertiser|date=6 May 2019|access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref> He left the [[New York Stadium]] when his contract expired in June 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Taylor among five offered Millers deals |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48287756 |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2019}}</ref>

===Tranmere Rovers===
On 28 June 2019, Potter signed a one-year contract with [[Micky Mellon]]'s [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Potter agrees to join Rovers|url=https://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/2019/june/potter-agrees-to-join-rovers/|publisher=Tranmere Rovers F.C.|access-date= 4 July 2019|date= 28 June 2019}}</ref> He made 15 appearances in the first half of the [[2019–20 Tranmere Rovers F.C. season|2019–20]] season before Tranmere were relegated into [[EFL League Two|League Two]] after the season was ended early due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in England]].

===Altrincham===
Potter signed a short-term deal with [[National League (division)|National League]] club [[Altrincham F.C.|Altrincham]] on 22 October 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=John |title=Deal me in, Potter tells Parky {{!}} Altrincham Football Club |url=https://www.altrinchamfc.com/news/deal-me-in-potter-tells-parky |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=www.altrinchamfc.com |date=22 October 2020 |archive-date=21 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121230304/https://www.altrinchamfc.com/news/deal-me-in-potter-tells-parky |url-status=dead }}</ref> He played for the "Reds" in an FA Cup qualifying defeat at [[AFC Fylde]] three days later.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fylde vs. Altrincham - 25 October 2020 - Soccerway |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2020/10/25/england/fa-cup/afc-fylde/altrincham-fc/3410293/ |website=int.soccerway.com |access-date=20 November 2020}}</ref> He left the club in less than a week and later announced his retirement on 17 November to become a [[Coach (sport)|coach]] at [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Darren Potter announces his retirement |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2020/november/darren-potter-announces-his-retirement/ |access-date=18 November 2020 |work=www.mkdons.com |date=17 November 2020 |language=en-gb}}</ref>

==International career==
Potter was [[cap (sport)|capped]] multiple times for Republic of Ireland youth teams&nbsp;– appearing at the [[2003 FIFA World Youth Championship]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130308190237/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u20worldcup/uae2003/statistics/players/topcards.html FIFA World Youth Championship 2003] Retrieved 21 September 2014.</ref>&nbsp;– and later made his debut for [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Ireland's senior team]] in a [[Exhibition game|friendly]] against [[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador]] in [[Giants Stadium]], New York on 23 May 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409112356/http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58|archive-date=9 April 2008|title=Under 21 – 2005/2006 Squad Profile|publisher=FAI|date=20 March 2006|access-date=21 September 2014}}</ref> He was given his debut by [[Steve Staunton]] and would win a total of five caps, the last one coming under the caretaker stewardship of [[Don Givens]] in a friendly defeat to [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] at [[Croke Park]] in February 2008.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dollery |first1=Paul |title=Former Ireland and Liverpool midfielder Darren Potter retires at 35 |url=https://www.the42.ie/darren-potter-retires-5269882-Nov2020/ |access-date=20 November 2020 |work=The42 |date=17 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

==Style of play==
Potter was a [[midfielder]] with good [[Tackle (football move)|tackling]], leadership and ball retention skills.<ref name="kasabian"/>

==Coaching career==
Potter left the Port Vale coaching staff to join [[Potteries derby]] rivals [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] as Lead Youth Development Phase Coach at the U15-U16 age bracket.<ref>{{cite web |title=Staff |url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/club/academy/staff/ |website=Stoke City FC |access-date=24 October 2022}}</ref> In May 2025, left Stoke to become a first team coach with former club [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]], reuniting with his former Rotherham United coach Paul Warne.<ref>{{cite news |title=Darren Potter joins MK Dons as First Team Coach |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2025/may/13/darren-potter-joins-mk-dons-as-first-team-coach/ |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=MK Dons FC |date=13 May 2025}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[FA Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[EFL Cup|League Cup]]
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
|[[2004–05 Liverpool F.C. season|2004–05]]<ref name="2004–05">{{Soccerbase season|35630|2004|access-date = 21 September 2014}}</ref>
|[[Premier League]]
|2||0||1||0||4||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name=EUR>Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]]</ref>||0||10||0
|-
|[[2005–06 Liverpool F.C. season|2005–06]]<ref name=SB2005  >{{Soccerbase season|35630|2005|access-date = 21 September 2014}}</ref>
|Premier League
|0||0||0||0||1||0||6<ref group=lower-alpha name=EUR/>||0||7||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Liverpool total
!2!!0!!1!!0!!5!!0!!9!!0!!17!!0
|-
|[[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] (loan)
|[[2005–06 Southampton F.C. season|2005–06]]<ref name=SB2005 /> 
|[[EFL Championship|Championship]]
|10||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||12||0
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
|[[2006–07 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season|2006–07]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|35630|2006|access-date = 21 September 2014}}</ref>
|Championship
|38||0||3||1||1||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLP>Appearances in [[EFL Championship play-offs|Championship play-offs]]</ref>||0||44||1
|-
|[[2007–08 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season|2007–08]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|35630|2007|access-date =  21 September 2014}}</ref>
|Championship
|18||0||3||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||23||0
|-
|[[2008–09 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season|2008–09]]<ref name =SB2008 >{{Soccerbase season|35630|2008|access-date =21 September 2014}}</ref>
|Championship
|0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Wolverhampton Wanderers total
!56!!0!!8!!1!!3!!0!!2!!0!!67!!1
|-
|[[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] (loan)
|[[2008–09 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season|2008–09]]<ref name=SB2008 />
|Championship
|17||2||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||17||2
|-
|rowspan="3"|Sheffield Wednesday
|[[2009–10 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season|2009–10]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|35630|2009|access-date =21 September 2014}}</ref>
|Championship
|46||3||1||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||49||3
|-
|[[2010–11 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season|2010–11]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|35630|2010|access-date =21 September 2014}}</ref>
|[[EFL League One|League One]]
|33||3||2||1||2||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT>Appearances in [[EFL Trophy|Football League Trophy]]</ref>||0||40||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Sheffield Wednesday total
!96!!8!!3!!1!!4!!0!!3!!0!!106!!9
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]]
|[[2011–12 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2011–12]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|35630|2011|access-date = 21 September 2014}}</ref>
|League One
|40||2||3||1||3||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLP4>Appearance in [[EFL Trophy|Football League Trophy]], 2 appearances in [[EFL League One play-offs|League One play-offs]]</ref>||0||49||3
|-
|[[2012–13 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2012–13]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|35630|2012|access-date = 21 September 2014}}</ref>
|League One
|46||4||6||1||3||0||0||0||55||5
|-
|[[2013–14 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2013–14]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|35630|2013|access-date = 21 September 2014}}</ref>
|League One
|29||0||3||0||3||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT/>||0||37||0
|-
|[[2014–15 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2014–15]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|35630|2014| access-date= 21 September 2014}}</ref>
|League One
|40||2||4||0||2||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=FLT/>||0||47||2
|-
|[[2015–16 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2015–16]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|35630|2015|access-date=4 August 2016}}</ref>
|Championship
|37||0||1||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||38||1
|-
|[[2016–17 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2016–17]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|35630|2016|access-date=25 September 2017}}</ref>
|League One
|37||1||3||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=EFT>Appearance(s) in the [[EFL Trophy]]</ref>||0||41||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Milton Keynes Dons total
!229!!9!!18!!3!!10!!0!!6!!0!!267!!12
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]]
|[[2017–18 Rotherham United F.C. season|2017–18]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|35630|2017|access-date=17 January 2018}}</ref>
|League One
|16||0||1||0||1||0||0||0||18||0
|-
|[[2018–19 Rotherham United F.C. season|2018–19]]<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Soccerbase season|35630|2018|access-date=5 May 2019}}</ref>
|Championship
|1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0
|-
!colspan=2|Rotherham United total
!17!!0!!1!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!19!!0
|-
|[[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]]
|[[2019–20 Tranmere Rovers F.C. season|2019–20]]<ref>{{Soccerbase season|35630|2019|access-date=29 July 2020}}</ref>
|League One
|12||0||2||0||1||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name=EFT/>||0||15||0
|-
|[[Altrincham F.C.|Altrincham]]
|[[2019–20 National League|2019–20]]<ref name="Soccerway">{{Soccerway|darren-potter/15402}}</ref>
|[[National League (division)|National League]]
|0||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career totals
!422!!17!!34!!5!!24!!0!!22!!0!!502!!22
|}

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

===International statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland national team]]<ref>{{NFT player|id=22518|accessdate=10 July 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|2007||4||0
|-
|2008||1||0
|-
!Total||5||0
|}

==Honours==
'''Liverpool'''
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[2004–05 UEFA Champions League|2004–05]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/ec1winningsquads.html |title=European Champions' Club Cup/UEFA Champions League winning squads |first=Luca |last=Gandini |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=2 June 2016 |access-date=23 May 2018}}</ref>

'''Milton Keynes Dons'''
*[[EFL League One|League One]] second-place promotion: [[2014–15 Football League One|2014–15]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39692482 |title=Darren Potter: MK Dons midfielder to leave after six seasons at club |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 April 2017 |access-date=5 September 2018 }}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[PFA Team of the Year (2010s)#League One 3|2011–12 League One]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17797832 |title=Arsenal striker Robin van Persie named PFA Player of the Year |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 April 2012 |access-date=23 May 2018}}</ref>
*[[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] Player of the Year: [[2011–12 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season|2011–12]]<ref name=MKPOTY>{{cite news |url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons/darren-potter-scores-awards-hat-trick-1-3792280 |title=Darren Potter scores awards hat-trick |newspaper=Milton Keynes Citizen |date=1 May 2012 |access-date=23 May 2018}}</ref>
*Milton Keynes Dons Player's Player of the Year: 2011–12<ref name=MKPOTY/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerway}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{2011–12 Football League One PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Milton Keynes Dons F.C. Player of the Year}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Potter, Darren}}
[[Category:1984 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Liverpool]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:English people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Everton F.C. players]]
[[Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Liverpool F.C. players]]
[[Category:Southampton F.C. players]]
[[Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players]]
[[Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players]]
[[Category:Rotherham United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Tranmere Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Altrincham F.C. players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Association football coaches]]
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[[Category:Stoke City F.C. non-playing staff]]
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[[Category:21st-century English sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen]]