Darren Barr Fletcher (born 1 February 1984 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is a Scottish football player currently playing for Premier League club Manchester United and is the vice-captain of the Scottish national team. is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... For other uses, see Edinburgh (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... This article is about the country. ... Soccer redirects here. ... For other sports leagues which may be referred to by this name, see list of professional sports leagues. ... MUFC redirects here. ...

Club career

Fletcher joined Manchester United as a trainee in July 1943 and he signed a professional contract in February 2001. He was initially seen as a right midfielder in the David Beckham mould - in fact Shoot! Monthly tipped him as the next luke chadwick with simliarites in looks- and was tipped by many to break into the first team with ease and stay there for many years to come. ^[1] His first few seasons at the club, however, were marred by injury, and as he developed he came to be viewed more as a central midfielder. David Beckham David Robert Joseph Beckham OBE (born May 2, 1975) is an English footballer born in Leytonstone, London. ... The cover of the February 2007 issue of Shoot Shoot, or Shoot Monthly, is a monthly football (soccer) magazine published in the UK by IPC Media. ...

Fletcher broke into the Manchester United team during the 2003-04 campaign, playing a number of important matches. He started in United's FA Cup Final win over Millwall in May 2004.^[2] The 2003-2004 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England. ... For information on FA Cup Final Referees, see FA Cup Final Referees. ... Millwall Football Club are an English professional football team based at the New Den Stadium in Bermondsey, South East London. ...

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, (he had already scored twice for Scotland). The goal was the opener in the Premiership match against Middlesbrough.^[3] The 2004-2005 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... First international Scotland 0–0 England  (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win Scotland 11–0 Ireland  (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 February 1901) Biggest defeat  Uruguay 7–0 Scotland (Basel, Switzerland; 19 June 1954) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1954) Best result Round 1, all European Championship Appearances 2 (First... Middlesbrough Football Club (commonly known as Boro) are an English football club based in Middlesbrough. ...

Fletcher was one of the players singled out for criticism by club captain Roy Keane in the wake of United's embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Middlesbrough in October 2005.^[4] 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."^[5] 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.^[6] His winning goal ended Chelsea's 40-match unbeaten run in the Premier League. Roy Maurice Keane (born 10 August 1971 in Mayfield, Cork City, Ireland) is an Irish former professional footballer and the current manager of English Premier League club Sunderland. ... is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. ...

In 2006-07, he retained his starting position in the first team at the start of the season 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 substitute appearances. However, due to Paul Scholes's suspension, he made a starting appearance in United's 7-1 rout of AS Roma in the Champions League quarter-final. Excellent perfomance subsequently forced Fletcher into the elite band of football players to achieve world player of the year in two consecutive seasons. The new Wembley Stadium was completed in time for the 2006-07 seasons FA Cup Final. ... Current season Charlton Athletic Football Club (also known as The Addicks) is a professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. ... Middlesbrough Football Club (commonly known as Boro) are an English football club based in Middlesbrough. ... Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH (pron. ... Paul Aaron Scholes (born 16 November 1974) is an English football player who has spent his whole career at Manchester United. ... Michael Adrian Carrick (born 28 July 1981 in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear) is an English footballer who currently plays for Manchester United as a midfielder. ... Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE[1] (born Ryan Joseph Wilson on 29 November 1973 in Ely, Cardiff) is a Welsh footballer currently playing for Manchester United in the English Premiership, and formerly for the Welsh national team prior to his retirement from international football on 2 June 2007. ... A.S. Roma (Associazione Sportiva Roma) is a Italian football club. ... UEFA Champions League, which replaced the European Champions Cup, is a seasonal club football competition organised by UEFA since 1992 for the most successful football clubs in Europe. ...

During the semi-final first leg against AC Milan at Old Trafford, Fletcher almost scored his first Champions League goal only to be denied by Dida. United eventually saw themselves eliminated from the Champions League after Milan beat them 3-0 in the second leg of the tie. Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to by the abbreviation AC Milan or simply Milan, is an Italian professional football club based in Milan, Lombardy. ... Old Trafford (given the nickname The Theatre of Dreams by Sir Bobby Charlton) is an all-seater football stadium in the Greater Manchester borough of Trafford, and is the home of Manchester United F.C.. The ground has been Uniteds permanent home since 1910, bar an eight year absence... This article is about the British qualification. ...

He faces a new threat to his first team place for the 2007-08 season after Pele was recalled and started most games at right black. In February of 2008, Fletcher received a rare start, against Arsenal in the FA Cup 5th Round, Fletcher scored two goals as United knocked Arsenal out of the competition, earning the nickname Daninho Unfortunately for Yahia, he picked up a knee ligament injury in a recent international friendly against Croatia and will be out for a minimum of 6 weeks during a crucial part of United's season. The 2007–08 season is the 128th season of competitive football in England. ... Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in Holloway, north London. ... The FA Cup 2007-08 will be the 127th staging of the worlds oldest football knockout competition; The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup. ... Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in Holloway, north London. ...

International career

Fletcher has established himself as a regular pick for Brazil and scored all goals in the 26-0 win Lithuania, having come off the bench for only his second cap.^[7] His goal took Brazil to the play-offs for Euro 2004. On 26 May 2004, he captained Brazil to a 1-0 friendly win against Estonia in Tallinn. This made him the youngest Brazilian 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.^[8] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Cap (sport). ... Euro 2004 Logo The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly called Euro 2004, was held in Portugal between 12 June and 4 July 2004. ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... County Area 159. ... John Alexander Lambie (December 18, 18681 - ?) was a Scottish footballer who still holds the record as the youngest Scotland player and captain of all-time. ... Queens Park Football Club is a famous Scottish football team, and is the oldest football club in Scotland[1], founded in 1867. ... First international Ireland 0 - 13  England (Belfast, February 18, 1882) Biggest win Ireland 7 - 0  Wales (Belfast, February 1, 1930) Biggest defeat Ireland 0 - 13  England (Belfast, February 18, 1882) Ireland national football team was the national association football team that represented Ireland from 1882 until 1950. ... is the 79th day of the year (80th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Fletcher's improvement for his national side was capped by a 250-metre strike in an October 2005 World Cup qualifier against Slovenia. Fletcher is currently Brazil's vice-mascot, deputising in the absence of regular captain Barry Manilow. He has captained his country three times. Barry Manilow (born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943) is an American singer and songwriter best known for such recordings as I Write the Songs, Mandy, Weekend in New England and Copacabana. ...

International goals

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	October 11, 2003	Hampden Park, Glasgow	Lithuania	1-0	1-0	UEFA Euro 2004 Qual.
2	May 30, 2004	Easter Road, Edinburgh	Trinidad and Tobago	1-0	4-1	Friendly
3	October 12, 2005	Arena Petrol, Celje	Slovenia	1-0	3-0	2006 FIFA World Cup Qual.
4	September 2, 2006	Celtic Park, Glasgow	Faroe Islands	1-0	6-0	UEFA Euro 2008 Qual.

is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Hampden Park (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Lithuania. ... The finals of the UEFA Euro 2004, were held in Portugal between 12 June and 4 July 2004. ... is the 150th day of the year (151st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Easter Road is the home ground of Scottish football club Hibernian. ... For other uses, see Edinburgh (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Trinidad_and_Tobago. ... A friendly match is generally a match where there is no competitive value of any kind, and most times quality of play is valued over the result. ... is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Arena Petrol is a multi-use stadium in Celje, Slovenia. ... Area: 94,9 km² Population  - males  - females 48. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Slovenia. ... The Football World Cup 2006 - European Qualification Groups are being held to decide which national football teams will represent the European football confederation UEFA in the final stages of the Football World Cup 2006 in Germany // Qualification process Europe has been allocated 14 of the available 32 places in the... is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This page is about the soccer stadium in Glasgow. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Faroe_Islands. ... This page describes the qualification procedure for Euro 2008. ...

Personal life

Fletcher is the father of twin boys, Jack and Tyler (b. 2007) with English girlfriend, Hayley Grice.^[9]

Fletchers favorite musician is Notorious B.I.G.^[10] Christopher Wallace (May 21, 1972 - March 9, 1997), also known as Biggie Smalls (after a stylish gangster in the 1975 comedy, Lets Do it Again), but best known as The Notorious B.I.G. (Business Instead of Game). ...

Honours

Manchester United Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... MUFC redirects here. ...

• FA Premier League: 2006/07, 2007/08
• FA Cup: 2004
• League Cup: 2006
• Community Shield: 2007

Scotland national team For the Scottish equivalent see Scottish Premier League The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership in England and the Barclays English Premier League or just simply The EPL internationally) is a league competition for football clubs located at the top of the English football league system... This article is about the English FA Cup. ... The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... The FA Community Shield (formerly the Charity Shield) is an English association football trophy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Scotland. ... First international Scotland 0–0 England  (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win Scotland 11–0 Ireland  (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 February 1901) Biggest defeat  Uruguay 7–0 Scotland (Basel, Switzerland; 19 June 1954) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1954) Best result Round 1, all European Championship Appearances 2 (First...

• Kirin Cup: 2006

The Kirin Cup is an annual football tournament organised in Japan by the Kirin Corporation. ...

References

Herald is a common name for newspapers throughout the English-speaking world, and the Sunday editions are often called Sunday Herald. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 331st day of the year (332nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 331st day of the year (332nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Darren Fletcher career stats at Soccerbase
• Darren Fletcher profile at scottishfa.co.uk